Flee has already made history by being the first film to be nominated for Best Documentary, Best Animated Feature, and Best International Movie for the upcoming Oscars, and it is easy to see why it has attracted such attention.
It tells the remarkable true story of Amin, a refugee from Afghanistan who finally settles in Denmark, but even though he has found safety and love, he struggles to comes to terms with his past. I say remarkable, because the his story packs in more twists and turns than most thrillers. His father is seized by the Mujahideen and he never sees him again.
He flees to Moscow with his Mum and brother where they are subjected to awful treatment by the corrupt police force. They make a number of attempts to get to the West before Amin finally makes it. Additionally Amin has to reckon with his sexual awakening and the realisation that he is gay, a fact he feels he has to hide from his family.
This astonishing tale is depicted with beautiful simple animation and a pleasingly linear recounting of his life by writer/director Jonas Poher Rasmussen.
Rating: 9 out of 10