On the Bride's Side

[marina-bonomi.livejournal.com]

In Europe, if you request the status of refugee, you cannot move to another country in the EU, not even if you have relatives or friends willing to take you in and sponsor you. You have to stay in the country where you place your request.

This is the reason why many people in flight from Syria and other war zones do not request to have their refugee status recognized, thus becoming paperless immigrants, aka illegal aliens, at risk of deportation (or worse) while they try to reach the country where their relatives live in.

But...What border guard would ever check the documents of a bride?

This question, almost a jest, started the adventure of 'On the Bride's Side' ('Io sto con la sposa') an indie docufilm set up to help five Syrian refugees reach Malmo and their families, European immigration laws notwithstanding.

It's half a road-movie and half a documentary, an act of civil disobedience against an injust law, an act of defiance that could cost the director and the troupe up to 15 years in prison for 'aiding and abetting illegal immigration'.

They have started an Indiegogo campaign to raise enough money to complete post-production, register the movie at the Venice Film Festival and get it into distribution.

I'm On the Bride's Side...and you?