Home Is Not a Country

Content Warning: This section depicts racism, Islamophobia, and hate crimes.

In “Haitham,” Nima visits her friend in the hospital. Haitham, a Muslim, was a victim of a hate crime and is kept alive by machines. Distraught, Nima flees the room. When she returns, Aisha comforts Haitham’s mom in “Hala.” Even though Hala brought him to the United States to protect him, she realizes he is not safe here. Later, in “Touched,” when the bus to the hospital lurches abruptly, a man bumps into Aisha, who recoils and growls at him. Moments later, she reveals the details of the car accident in Sudan that killed Nima’s father: Aisha and Ahmed were stopped by officers who wanted to touch her. When Nima’s father locked the doors and tried to drive away, the officers shot him. Pained, Nima jumps off the bus.

In “Running,” Nima ends up alone amid a festival. Drawn by hunger, she wanders and is swept up by a parade of dancers. In “Houses,” Nima stumbles onto a quiet street of inviting homes. Walking through an open gate in “Trespassing,” she finds a swimming pool. On impulse, she enters “The Water” and finds solace in being beneath the surface.