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I Was a Stranger
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Movie Details
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Videos & Photos
- Trailer 2 (02:24)
- Trailer 1 (02:02)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
A Syrian doctor and her daughter flee Aleppo, setting off a chain of events that binds five strangers together. A smuggler, a soldier, a poet, and a coast guard captain collide in a crisis that tests their courage, their choices, and their humanity.
Cast
- Yasmine Al Massri
- Yahya Mahayni
- Omar Sy
- Ziad Bakri
- Constantine Markoulakis
- Ayman Samman
- Mahmoud Bakri
- Saleh Bakri
- Jason Beghe
Moviegoers are saying
This Syrian refugee crisis drama divides audiences between those moved by its multi-perspective storytelling and strong performances, and critics who slam it as 'misery porn' with problematic messaging from a white director. The film's distribution by Angel Studios and the director's post-credits donation plea particularly rubbed viewers the wrong way.
Top Mentions
Summary generated from the text of Atom User reviews
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.4
2.9K
1.1K
663
- Feb 24, 2024
the refugee crisis put into a digestible thriller/drama for mass audiences. the type of film people walk out of, feeling terrible yet their conscience is a little bit more relieved. hey, at least you're on the right side of history, huh? i see the need for a film like…
shookoneJan 8, 2026Y’all really worried about who’s telling the story rather than the story that is being told. It’s gripping, moving and intense with layered characters who all give incredible performances.
ChazmJan 9, 2026pros: - produced by philistine films, an independent studio based in palestine and jordan - THE atticus ross of NIN on the soundtrack - critique of xenophobia - diverse cast and strong acting cons: - distributed by weird christian company that is ironically named angel…
anglerphish - Jan 9, 2026
Why make a movie about refugees and open up with the trump building? Especially when the film never takes place in America. Typical angel studio misery porn type of film.
🏳️⚧️💕Belle Forger💕🏳️⚧️Jan 19, 2026Anthological; curious; engaging; problematic; tense; tragic; well-constructed; well-made.
joshrowleyJan 8, 2026decently well made but the white boy at the end asking for donations to pay-it-forward movie tickets to his movie after showing syrian children dying in the water really sums up the overall messaging
the gravel goblin - Jan 8, 2026
In the credits, the director comes on to tell us that the purpose of his film is to show people that strangers are more alike than we think, even in times of war like the Syrian Refugee Crisis, it is all a matter of perspective. Empathy for refugees/immigrants is extremely…
AumnipotentTakJan 7, 2026What did I just watch? We have the stories of several strangers converging in a bizarre fashion with no character or plot development at all. The doctor and soldier were a great start, but once you gave us the smuggler, poet, and captain the movie basically fell of a…
Cinemaniac247Jan 8, 2026Early on I wasn't such a big fan of much of anything coming out of Angel Studios.. but recently they have allowed filmmakers to tell their stories without shoving Jesus down your throat for two hours. This film is a perfect example of that and a Story that needs to be told…
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Top Reviews
- Diego Huertas is "meh" onI Was a Stranger
6/10 It was alright had some pacing issues overall a good story about perspective
Tyra watched_neutraldI Was a Stranger6/10; i was hooked til the end, but the ending was SO SAD
Samantha McQuillan lovedI Was a Strangergut wrenching
Atom User Reviews
POPULAR TAGS
#intense
#inspiring
#mustsee
#heartpounding
#truestory
#greatcast
#original
Verified Review
I was confused through a bunch of it. It was definitely a different Angel movie than I've ever seen. A lot of questions left unanswered
DF
Dorotha F
Verified Review
Everyone should watch this . It would hopefully teach people some empathy. Put your self in their shoes and perhaps judge refugees less.
EW
Eva W
Metacritic
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