Between Borders (Review and Giveaway)

 

In a crumbling Soviet Union, the Petrosyan family are outcasts—wherever they go. Armenian heritage marks them for discrimination both at home in Azer Baijan and in Russia. Based on a riveting true story of faith and hope set amid great oppression . . . in the shadow of exile, hope became their home.

As a middle-aged homeschooling mom I come in contact with more and more women who are struggling with chronic pain. Sure, on the outside everything appears to be fine and normal but the day to day is not so easy. You might see a woman smiling on the outside but crying on the inside as the pain consumes her. The same goes with mental turmoil.

These issues came to my mind as I watched this film.

When seeking asylum from discrimination in their home country and in Russia, everything seemed fine on the surface. The courts deal with asylum cases all of the time and they know which questions to ask—or so they think. Are the lawyers just money hungry or do they genuinely care about those who are suffering? What about the judges?

This true story shows that there is more beneath the surface, more that can be found in yes or no questions and more to the stories of families that we might meet in church, at the store, or even in homeschooling circles.

What stood out to me the most in this film is that you might look at someone and simply have no idea what type of discrimination they are experiencing. I learned a tremendous amount about the discrimination of Armenians in Russia—and to think that this was happening in my lifetime and I had no idea the magnitude. I had a brief understanding from conversations with people in college but this true story opened my eyes to so much more. It reminded me that there are so many cultures out there, so many conflicts, and I have so much to learn.

This film brought me back to a time when I saw similar discrimination in the Middle East a few decades ago. Looking out of the window of the complex where I was volunteering for a few months, I saw a billow of smoke. Several days passed and all I could do was wonder if the families that I had shared a meal with a few weeks prior were okay. Finally, I had heard that they had escaped to a refugee camp. Yes, they were physically okay but what about emotionally? For ten days I watched as their home crumbled to the ground. The home that had welcomed me and the other volunteers with open arms, food, and laughter—all because of discrimination against their heritage. Simply because one people group despised another. It was eye-opening.

This film is an excellent way to teach our children compassion and understanding. To help encourage them to get to know others and hear their stories. America is filled with those who have escaped tragedies such as what it found in this film—we just need to be willing to listen. This movie opened up wonderful conversations with my teens—I highly recommend watching this with your family or in your homeschool.

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Disclaimer:  

Many thanks to Pinnacle Peak Pictures for providing a sample of the product for this  review. Opinions are 100% my own.