Highlighting the plight of the Rohingya refugees

The historical documentary film titled, Blossoms From Ash, featuring the persecuted Rohingya people, has been completed with the active contribution of a unique team. Blum Family Foundation (USA) has produced the film created by Circle Media International (Bangladesh). The poster and trailer of the documentary are available in the official website (www.blossomsfromashmovie.com).

This documentary incorporates the summary of a 1200-year old story with visual evidence of the involvement of Islam and the Roginya community in Arakan state of Myanmar. It is noted that, the current Myanmar Government head Aung San Suu Kyi has denied any involvement of Rohingya people in Arakan state history in different aspects, rather stating them as Bangladeshi citizens.

Blossoms From Ash has proven the statement wrong with historical documents and evidence. For now, this film is narrated in English. It will gradually be rendered into Bangla, Hindi, French, German and Spanish.

The shooting team was present at Rohingya camps in Bangladesh from August 17 to 27 this year. The film portrays the Rohingya refugee life on the eve of Eid-Ul-Azha, one of the holy occasions for the Muslims over there. The crew has also documented the unremitting miserable situation and persecution the Rohingyas have been facing in Arakan for the last 250 years.

 “Three different Rohingya refugee children and their family stories in Ukhiya camp have been shot in the film. The children are living in the tortuous environment of the refugee camp,” says Noman Robin, the director of the film. “But they have a keen interest in their studies and sports. The hopes, desires, goals, happiness and pain of these children from Arakan are the main focus of this film.”

The American producer Alex Blum also discussed the project. “Blum Family Foundation wants to show the film in different film festivals worldwide,” he explains.  “The main motive of the foundation is to stir up the sensible audience around the world about the injustice happening in Arakan against the Rohingya through this film.”

 Sarun Manandhar (Nepal) is the DOP of the documentary while Shafayet Faraizi (USA) has narrated the documentary.