I Was a Stranger

An escape from the siege of Aleppo sets a chain of fateful meetings in motion. Amira Homsi, a Syrian doctor, flees with her daughter, seeking safety away from war's grip. Their flight collides with the plans of a diverse group: a smuggler, a soldier, a poet, and a coast guard captain, each drawn together by a single crisis. What begins as a desperate bid for shelter spirals into choices that test loyalty, conscience, and humanity under pressure. The four men and woman find themselves navigating competing loyalties and dangerous terrain as moral lines blur. As the tension tightens, ordinary people are forced to weigh self preservation against acts of mercy. The narrative unfolds with restraint and quiet, letting consequences linger.

Directed by Brandt Andersen and released in 2025, I Was a Stranger is based on original screenplay, with Yasmine Al Massri as Amira Homsi at its center and a cast including Yahya Mahayni, Omar Sy, Ziad Bakri, and Constantine Markoulakis.

Box office figures for the film have not been publicly released, so gross numbers are not available at this time. The production has drawn attention for its timely refugee narrative and the star power of its ensemble in festival circuits.

There are no announced nominations or awards for the movie at this time, to date still. As a 2025 release, it has yet to appear on major year end lists, though several critics have praised the film for its humane focus and strong performances from a diverse ensemble across festivals.

The film centers on displacement and the moral choices people make when lives hang in the balance. Amira's struggles, together with the smuggler, the soldier, the poet, and the coast guard captain, illuminate how fear can bind strangers yet also spark courage and solidarity. It leaves audiences with lingering questions.