Refugees

Cert

Age group5–12

Duration77 mins

An American Tail(1986)

Warm animated family adventure in which a Russian mouse flee his homeland and persecution by cats for a new life in America.

This classic animated adventure is a warm, accessible access point to talking about the immigrant experience with younger audiences. The film uses its story of mice fleeing persecution from cats as a gentle allegory for the treatment of Jewish people and other minorities.

Cert

Age group8–15

Duration115 mins

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial(1982)

This heart-warming family favourite about an alien stranded all alone on earth contains some of the most magical scenes in movie history.

It’s not easy being an alien stranded all alone on Earth. ET - the small, strange, ugly but somehow loveable hero of this heart-warming audience favourite - finds a way of getting on with the human children who are initially confused and scared by his presence in their lives. A magical film that encourages understanding about the fear of finding yourself in a strange place.

Cert

Age group8–15

Duration91 mins

Paddington(2014)

Charming family film about an accident prone young bear from Peru arriving in London and searching for a new home.

Although his story might be a funny and adorable tale of a famous marmalade-eating bear, there is no debate about the fact that Paddington bear is a refugee. His creator, Michael Bond, grew up in wartime Britain, where many refugees came to stay with his family and is quoted as saying "Paddington Bear was a refugee with a label - 'Please look after this bear. Thank you.'"

Cert

Age group5–12

Duration82 mins

Lilo & Stitch(2002)

Animation about a weird little being who escapes from the prison of his evil creator and goes to planet Earth, where he pretends to be a dog.

In a similar vein to E.T., Lilo and Stitch uses the family-friendly character of a cheeky alien to explore varying attitudes towards refugees and the difficulty faced in assimilating to a new society.

CertUnclassified

Age group12+

Duration9 mins

Migrants(2020)

After two polar bears are forced to leave their home, they attempt to find a new community in which to live.

This 3D computer animated short film doesn’t shy away from reflecting the harsh reality of many refugees’ and migrants’ stories, depicting how these people are regularly persecuted by wider society.

CertUnclassified

Age group8–15

Duration4 mins

25 Days of My Life(2017)

An autobiographical account of a refugee’s journey from Africa to Britain via her 25 days in a Calais camp.

This animated autobiographical account of a refugee’s story is an intimate and moving short film which provides an empathetic perspective on immigration and citizenship.

CertUnclassified

Age group8–12

Duration5 mins

Pengugee(2021)

When a married couple in England adopt a penguin, he initially struggles to adapt to his new surroundings.

Adorable, emotional and intelligent in equal measure, this is a non-dialogue puppet animation which introduces topics such as displacement to primary-aged learners in an accessible manner.

CertUnclassified

Age group8–15

Duration14 mins

Dad(2015)

A lonely Welsh boy discovers a refugee on his local beach, and in trying to help begins to heal the effects of war on his own family.

A film that aims to tackle the universality of the human experience through smart character work and the contemporary issues surrounding refugees and immigration.