When the Taliban puts a bounty on Afghan director Hassan Fazili’s head, he is forced to flee with his wife and two young daughters. Through cellphone footage that feels a bit like home movies, Hassan reveals his family’s uncertain and dangerous journey. Their experience makes visible the frustrations and vulnerabilities experienced by thousands of refugees as they confront national bureaucracies, policies and prejudices.

Midnight Traveler tells the story of one family’s perseverance through a three-year journey, spanning thousands of miles and dozens of personal milestones, during which even the simplest tasks are made difficult and family is often the only comfort. The story of Hassan Fazili and his family humanizes the statistics behind the global refugee crisis, making the film an excellent springboard for discussions on immigration and asylum policies.

Midnight Traveler is an excellent tool for outreach and will be of special interest to people who want to explore the following topics:

Afghanistan

documentary filmmaking
immigration policy

nationalism

refugees and resettlement

resilience