The Crossing

The Crossing tells the difficult story of individuals forced into displacement. The characters in focus are a group of Syrian refugees whose lives are thrown into turmoil as they attempt to flee across the sea from Egypt to Europe. There is no shying away from the harsh conditions of their escape — from being packed shoulder-to-shoulder on a cargo vehicle, to being stranded at sea with no certainty of safe passage. (The transportation of refugees has been exploited by for-profit organizations for whom the safety of their wards is not a priority.) An incredible amount of footage has been filmed on camera phones to give you a firsthand account of their struggle, including the deeply personal and tense moments of secrecy and stealth that punctuate their journey. These refugees, like any group of individuals, come from diverse backgrounds and occupations. Some of them are journalists, some are teachers and musicians, but they are all bonded through a common desire for peace, even if it means being uprooted from their culture and their families. -AP