10 Fantasy Films About Refugees

Description: Jen, a Gelfling, must restore balance to his world by healing the Dark Crystal, a quest that mirrors the refugee's journey to find a new home and restore peace.

Fact: Jim Henson and Frank Oz created all the creatures using advanced puppetry techniques. The film took over five years to make.

Description: A unicorn sets out to find others of her kind, encountering humans fleeing from a tyrannical king, which parallels the refugee narrative through her quest for identity and belonging.

Fact: The film features voice acting by Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges, and Alan Arkin. It was based on Peter S. Beagle's novel.

Description: Bastian, a boy who escapes into the pages of a book, finds himself in Fantasia, a world on the brink of destruction, where he must help save its inhabitants, reflecting themes of displacement and hope.

Fact: The film's iconic theme song "The NeverEnding Story" was performed by Limahl. The film was shot in Germany, with some scenes filmed in Bavaria.

Description: While not explicitly about refugees, the film's narrative of Buttercup's journey through various lands and her struggle against tyranny can be seen as a metaphor for the refugee experience.

Fact: The film was adapted from William Goldman's novel, and Goldman himself wrote the screenplay. It has since become a cult classic.

Description: In this surreal film, a mad scientist kidnaps children to steal their dreams, and one of the children, Miette, leads a band of orphans, embodying the refugee theme through their quest for freedom and identity.

Fact: The film was co-directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, known for their visually stunning and imaginative work. It was shot in a former submarine base in France.

Description: Four siblings enter the magical land of Narnia, where they become refugees from their own world, facing a battle against the White Witch, symbolizing their displacement and struggle for a new home.

Fact: The film was shot in New Zealand, where the crew built a 30,000-square-foot set for Narnia. It also used over 150,000 feet of fake snow.

Description: Set in post-Civil War Spain, this dark fantasy follows Ofelia, a young girl who escapes into a fantastical world to cope with the harsh realities of her stepfather's fascist regime, reflecting the refugee experience through her journey.

Fact: The film was shot in chronological order to capture the natural aging of the child actors. It also won three Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography.

Description: Brendan, a young monk, leaves his isolated monastery to help complete the Book of Kells, encountering fantastical creatures and facing Viking invasions, symbolizing the displacement and preservation of culture.

Fact: The film's animation style is inspired by Celtic art, particularly the Book of Kells. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Description: While not strictly fantasy, this post-apocalyptic tale of a father and son's journey through a devastated world captures the essence of refugees seeking safety and a new life.

Fact: The film was adapted from Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. It was shot in various locations to depict a world after a cataclysmic event.

Description: Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves, fleeing from their destroyed homeland, seek to reclaim their mountain home from the dragon Smaug, embodying the refugee's journey for a new beginning.

Fact: The film used extensive CGI to bring Smaug to life, with Benedict Cumberbatch providing the voice and motion capture for the dragon.