MOLLY & MOBARAK

 
 

A young refugee from Afghanistan Mobarak Tahiri finds work in a small Australian country town and falls in love with local girl Molly.

Mobarak is one of 3,500 illegal boat people from the Hazara ethnic minority who arrived on the coast of Northern Australia between 1999 and 2001 fleeing persecution from the Taliban. After spending months in detention most Hazaras were found to be genuine refugees and released on 3-year Temporary Protection Visas.

At the start of 2002 a group of refugees, one of whom is Mobarak, arrive in Young, a small town 4 hours drive from Sydney. Unlike most Australian country towns, Young is thriving. The local meat-works is expanding its business and desperately short of workers.

Year: 2003

Runtime: 88 minutes

Directed & produced by Tom Zubrycki

Awards & Festivals: Opening night film Margaret Mead Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne Film Festival, in competition for Best Feature Documentary at IDFA, Toronto International Film Festival.