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What It's Like To Be An Asylum-Seeker On Manus Island

What It's Like To Be An Asylum-Seeker On Manus Island

Two refugees, known only as Behrouz and Omar, fled to Australia from the Middle-East in 2013.

Escaping what they describe as certain death, they had days in which to leave their homes and choose a path to safety.

They ended up on Manus Island, Australia's offshore processing centre -- a place they remain today.

This short documentary, Nowhere Line, which aired recently at Sydney's Flickerfest, explains what life is like in the detention centre.

The story is told through phone call recordings made between the filmmakers and Behrouz and Omar.

With the help of animation, the two men paint a picture of life on the Island, and it appears as a kind of purgatory.

Recounting not only the horrid living conditions but also the infamous riot that broke out in 2014, seven months after asylum-seekers were transferred to the island, which saw 23 year-old Reza Barati killed.

The short documentary makes for compulsory viewing as Australia continues to debate a humane approach to helping asylum-seekers in their plight for a safe home.

The film was directed by Lukas Schrank. You can see more from him over here.

If you have a short film, web series, documentary or any other interesting video stories you would like featured on HuffPost Australia, email emily.verdouw@huffingtonpost.com.au

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