User Reviews

Boring. Slow. Self-indulgent. But not worthless. I am disappointed that violated my principle that if a movie is going nowhere by 35 minutes then it not worth hanging on.

Limbo' will make you remember that borders may have created order but also pain and suffering. Through a simple yet powerful story about a Syrian refugee stuck in Scotland until his asylum is granted, director Ben Sharrock reflects on the unjust struggle of people just looking for a better life. Sharrock is careful not to romanticize the harsh experience of fleeing home because of the danger that represents staying there; the deadpan comedy is just the perfect ingredient to frame the absurdity of waiting ages for an asylum response. Ari Kaurismäki, Yorgos Lanthimos and Wes Anderson fans will salivate with this. But at the core of this movie is Amir El-Masry, who portrays Omar, the Syrian refugee. His subtle smiles and the melancholy of his look elevate his character to the max, making us create a whole and sad backstory in our minds. Also, let's not forget Vikash Bhai, who, as Farhad, portrays the most tender and bonkers character in the film. 'Limbo,' just like 'Flee' and 'His House,' each one with a different style and approach, embodies the tragedy of the refugee crisis and the numerous ways Europe is failing to provide a solution to this huge problem.

This film is quirky and thoughtful. I liked the way scenes are filmed with a panoramic view of the barren landscape, bringing home how isolating it must be for the few people who find themselves somewhat stranded on small Scottish islands. It shows the Scottish locals as not entirely keen on the refugees, for numerous reasons - I have no doubt racism still exists in Scotland. It made me think about how welcoming Scotland is thought of as being towards foreigners and how this perhaps isn't always the case in reality. The scenes featuring fellow refugees receiving training to do with fitting in with British culture, were eye opening in terms of how the teachers interact with the refugees and at times even slightly amusing, in terms of the dialogue and situations. Its poignant at times, with good cinematography, so I'd certainly recommend it, yes.

This is a film that slowly reveals itself and the characters. The slow pace isn't for everyone - but it treats the subject and the people involved with heart - and art - and nuanced humor. The location shots are gorgeous and I appreciated that they were on-screen long enough to really explore what we were seeing ... I could feel the biting cold and wind. It was an interesting glimpse into the lives of refugees seeking asylum with what is probably a fraction of the very slow pace that the refugees experience waiting for their fates to be determined. Some nice character expositions; the phone calls home feel real. It has some heart-warming moments, like the Sikh who runs the local shop. The blank looks of acceptance on the faces of the refugees when confronted with disrespect or other slights seem right: a non-confrontational way to get by, particularly given the horrors they've escaped to make it to their Scotland holding location.

Wow I wonder why people gave this zeros without comment. Filler filler filler filler filler.

Is the most effective way to depict tedium to make a tedious movie? That appears the approach from first time writer/director Ben Sharrock. It depicts the dreary monotony of living in a bleak environment with almost nothing to do but wait for an answer to the asylum request. One of the immigrants living on this fictional remote Scottish island is a Syrian musician (Amir El-Masry). This film follows his dull life, waiting a lot, taking lessons in Western customs and talking with his parents in Turkey. He also carries his oud (a stringed instrument) everywhere, never having the courage to actually play it. Tedious frustration is the overarching theme behind this story and the review in 2 words. Almost every scene could be half as long and the endless shots of unattractive landscapes just take up time. There’s a message about the immigrant experience, but it’s diluted by the “tedious frustration” of watching the film. [usr =2.5]

Just because a movie character is stuck in limbo doesn't mean viewers should be subjected to the same. Such is the case with this sometimes-humorous drama (blatantly misrepresented in its trailer as a fish-out-of-water comedy) about an asylum-seeking Syrian musician stuck on a remote island off the Scottish coast while awaiting word about his claim. The plodding story, with its exceedingly long, lingering barren landscape shots, all-too-obvious symbolic elements, and quirky attempts at humor that seem stuck on as after-thoughts, examines the refugee crisis from a variety of angles but never really comes up with a cohesive and directed narrative, falling somewhere vaguely between character study and dramatic feature. To be sure, the dramatic elements aren't entirely without merit, but the script delivering them certainly could have used some shoring up to yield a better outcome. Consequently, what audiences are left with in director Ben Sharrock's second feature is a patience-trying offering seeking to find itself almost as much as its lost protagonist is looking to find himself.