New Homeland

In 2017, Canada, our amiable northern neighbor, welcomed 27,000 refugees, just 6,000 fewer than the United States, despite having only a tenth of its population. Many of these refugees hailed from Syria and Iraq, enduring arduous physical and mental journeys to find safety. Academy Award®-winning director Barbara Kopple tells their story through an innovative and imaginative lens: a summer camp. Camp Pathfinder, situated on a small island in the Canadian wilderness, has been a sanctuary for boys from Canada and the U.S. for over a hundred years. A few years back, its director, moved by the distressing news, decided to open the camp to refugees. Kopple’s film captures their experience, beautifully portraying the formation of new friendships. However, not all the boys can completely leave behind the trauma of war. Through their perspectives, NEW HOMELAND explores the challenges and triumphs of beginning anew.