UNTIL HE’S BACK
SPAIN & MOROCCO | 39:41 min. | 2024 | French, Spanish, Darija, English subtitles
Director and Producer: Jacqueline Baylon
SYNOPSIS
After learning that his son, Yahya, has died at sea trying to get to Spain, Ahmed Tchiche must find a way to bring his remains back home to Morocco so he and his family can have a proper goodbye. A Spanish mortician, an NGO worker and an established Moroccan immigrant living in Spain all struggle to help Ahmed navigate the complicated process of repatriation. Through interweaving stories, "Until He's Back" explores a dangerous journey — crossing the Gibraltar Strait from Africa to Spain — and the difficulty of returning the bodies of those who drown at sea. In this story of grief and hope, a family and a community try to make sense of the tragedy that took Yahya away.
AWARDS:
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - Winner: Best Documentary Short
Mountainfilm - Winner: Best Short Film Special Jury Mention
Hamptons Intl. Film Festival - Winner: Best Short Documentary
El Paso Film Festival Winner: Best Short Documentary
NOMINATIONS: Best Documentary Short - 40th IDA Documentary Awards
FESTIVALS:
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Tampere Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, Festival de Cine de Tarifa y Tanger, Mountainfilm, DC/DOX, Woods Hole Film Festival, DokuFest, Buffalo Intl. Film Festival, Hamptons Intl. Film Festival, El Paso Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, and DOC NYC.
DISTRIBUTION: PBS POV Shorts Season 7. Broadcast premiere is November 26th, 2024
“Until He’s Back” is a poignant and evocative film that hauntingly portrays the disappearance of a young boy, in essence raising his ghost. It invites viewers to experience the community’s profound sense of grief through the eyes of his father. Through its layered perspectives of the migrant journey, the film fosters important conversations about a story that could be one of many, shedding light on the broader issue of the unnamed thousands who vanish each year. With its poetic portrayal, a tender eye for details, and heartfelt sensitivity, “Until He’s Back” captivates on multiple levels, showcasing remarkable artistry and emotional depth.
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