‘Lamya’s Poem’ Producer Sam Kadi on Why the Syrian Refugee Crisis Is Worsening — and How Hollywood Can Help
variety.comNick Vivarelli International Correspondent “Lamya’s Poem” centers around a Syrian refugee girl named Lamya who draws strength from the verses of ancient poet Rumi after violence forces her to flee from her country.
The animated film was recently released digitally in the U.S. roughly around the anniversary of Syria’s 12-year uprising and in the aftermath of massive back-to-back earthquakes that have hit Turkey and Syria.
The timely tale’s impressive voice talent includes Mena Massoud, the star of Disney’s most recent “Aladdin,” as Rumi when he was a young poet; Millie Davis (“Wonder,” “Orphan Black”) as Lamya; and Faran Tahir (“Iron Man,” “Star Trek”) as Baha Walad, Rumi’s father. “Lamya’s Poem” is directed by Alex Kronemer and produced by Sam Kadi, Los Angeles-based Syrian director who helmed the doc “Little Gandhi,” which focuses on the life and death of young Syrian peace activist Ghiyath Matar.
Kadi spoke to Variety about how “Lamya’s Poem” ties in with latest developments in the ongoing plight of the Syrian people, nearly half a million of whom have been killed in the conflict while half the country’s pre-war population has been displaced. The war in Syria has been raging for 12 years and, as though that wasn’t enough, your country was also recently struck by deadly earthquakes.
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