I Was A Stranger (Christian Movie Review)
War spares no one, not even children. That reality becomes heartbreakingly clear in I Was a Stranger, a film that offers a moving and beautifully crafted glimpse into the Syrian refugee crisis and reminds viewers that every person they encounter is a fellow image bearer of God.
About the Film
The Syrian refugee crisis—fallout from the Syrian civil war that ended in December of 2024—is still ongoing. War spares no one, not even children. That reality becomes heartbreakingly clear in I Was a Stranger, a film that offers a moving and beautifully crafted glimpse into the Syrian refugee crisis and reminds viewers that every person they encounter is a fellow image bearer of God.
The film tells the story of five lives that ultimately become intertwined: a doctor who treats everyone who comes into the hospital (regardless of their political affiliation), a soldier who struggles to follow immoral orders he receives from his superior, a hardened smuggler who helps refugees traverse the Mediterranean, a poet who must fight his own mild manner in order to protect his family of five, and a Greek coast guard captain tasked with picking refugee boats out of the Mediterranean. All five meet in the middle of the sea during the film’s climax.
The portrayal of the crisis is tasteful, presenting the story in a straightforward manner rather than pushing a particular political agenda. Each character is complex, flawed, and experiences profound loss.
Due to the interconnected five-story structure, the movie could easily become repetitive, yet the filmmakers demonstrate storytelling prowess by recognizing what to leave out and what bears repeating. The transitions between characters are clear, and each segment ends on a cliffhanger. Several of the stories parallel each other, connecting characters from across the sea. For example, the film features two father/son duos, one in Turkey and one in Greece. In different locations on the same night, each father falls asleep holding his son only to wake up a few hours later to head to the Mediterranean for two different but connected jobs. Small details like these further the idea of connection running through this film.
Aside from telling a moving story, the film is technically well constructed. A handheld camera is used the majority of the time, adding to the feelings of instability and chaos. The editing balances long and short cuts that are perfectly suited to each scene. The film was shot mostly on location. Finally, the acting is profound, especially the performances by the kids. All five storylines involve children, and each child actor seems to understand the stakes. I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of these actors reemerge as stars later in their careers.
I Was a Stranger finishes with a silent call to action urging viewers to remember that every person’s life is valuable. Though we may be strangers now, we are all image-bearers of the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good creator of the universe.
For Consideration
On the Surface—(Profanity, Sexual content, violence, etc.).
Language: The N-word is said in Arabic and translated into English using subtitles.
Violence: Bloodied victims of war are shown in a hospital or sprawled in the street. No gore is shown, but blood is smeared on people’s faces, pooled on the ground, and visible on a lifeless hand (the rest of the body is hidden by rubble). Gun threats and violence are present, and two men are shot on camera, but no blood spatter is shown. The story includes an execution by firing squad. Gunshots are heard and dead bodies are shown from afar or in the background. Bombs go off, including one inside a family’s home while they are inside, but only the explosion and darkness are visible. Two children drown, and their limp bodies are held by their parents.
Sexuality: None.
Engage The Film
Interconnectivity of Image Bearers
The title of this film, I Was A Stranger, with an emphasis on the word “was,” is a perfect representation of how we should view each person we meet. For years, the idea that “we all bleed the same color” has been preached in Christian and non-Christian circles alike, yet we remain largely divided by culture, language, religion, race, and political affiliation.
From the beginning, Scripture teaches that every person we meet is a fellow image bearer of God. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” In the film, all five of the main characters meet out of necessity. Their fear, loss, and love unite them. They recognize that they are all broken and need each other more than they think. In an early scene, the doctor is confronted for treating a rebel. She responds, “We treat the wounded and dying. We don’t ask if they damaged our hospital or how they came to be wounded and dying.” She chooses to treat each patient she encounters because she recognizes the innate value of all human life. Though we may not know each other, we are connected in a way that transcends this world. We are all image bearers of God, so we’re not really strangers after all.
