Escape to Paradise

A man, a woman and three children. They sit lost on a bench. In the middle of the night at a Swiss railway station. They have achieved their goal. Finally. The man’s name is Sehmuz, his wife’s name is Delâl. A Kurdish compatriot picks up the family and shows them the way to ‘Camp 50’, the reception centre for refugees in Basel. There they apply for asylum. Their application is approved. They will be transferred to an asylum centre with their children. They live there in cramped conditions with asylum seekers from other countries. Different languages and diverse cultures provoke funny, comical and dramatic situations. Sehmuz and Delâl are waiting for their interview appointment. This inquiry will determine her future fate. Can they positively influence their destiny? Aziz, another Kurdish compatriot, knows what to do. He brings Sehmuz together with a Swiss storyteller. The story seller is a shrewd dealer in ‘credible stories’ and ‘genuine documents’. But where to get the money to buy a story from him? It works — but Sehmuz struggles to memorise the story he bought, even though his children help him practise every day. The interview date is getting closer and closer. As a precaution, Delâl makes contact with a fellow countrywoman who has already helped others, in case the decision turns out to be negative…