Migration is often understood as traveling to a new, unknown country. For many people, however, migration also means returning to a country they are familiar with, their old homeland. Whether one decides to return voluntarily or is forced to do so, the topic of return encompasses a wide range of questions about origin and belonging, integration, identity, and cultural and social influences.  This themed evening presents different personal perspectives from Syria, the former Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan.

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Distilled (documentary, 23 min, Germany 2024) by Christopher Larson

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Asmir was 15 when the war in Yugoslavia began. As a teenager, he emigrated to Germany in a cloak-and-dagger operation, with only a plastic bag full of personal belongings. That was 27 years ago. He grew up in Berlin and built a life for himself as an entrepreneur. Due to his eventful life in Berlin, the question of his old homeland remained in the background for Asmir for a long time. And yet the “what if I went back” question is at least present as a thought experiment: What if I return and no one I know is left in my hometown? What if everything has changed and nothing feels familiar anymore? Can roots simply disappear after a long absence?

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Born In Damascus (short film, 15 min, UK 2021) by Laura Wadha

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Young filmmaker Laura Wadha, born in Damascus, emigrated at the start of the war in Syria in 2011. Since then, she and her family have been scattered across the globe. She herself lives in Scotland, her cousin Lujain in Canada. After more than 15 years of living apart, the two try to reconnect with their shared family history through video calls and shared memories. A very personal approach to what was once home: Syria.

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Following the films, videos from the current EU research project GAPs - Decentring the study of migrant returns and readmission policies in Europe and beyond and the series on “Return Migration” produced by Migration Matters e.V. will be presented.

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The theme night RETURNING combines film, a conversation with protagonist Asmir and filmmaker Christopher Larson, discussion input from migration expert Ruth Vollmer (Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies), and an exchange of knowledge and experiences among the audience.