The Runner
Saeed Taji Farouky | Western Sahara/Ireland 2012 | 1h34m | Arabic with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

“Running is part of my resistance. It’s the only weapon I have.” Salah Hmatou Ameidan is willing to risk his life, his career, his family and his nationality to run for a country that doesn’t exist. He is from Western Sahara, officially Africa’s last colony and under Moroccan occupation since 1975. Salah grew up under Moroccan occupation in Western Sahara, he is a Sahrawi, a native of the area. By 14 he was recognized as a talented athlete and was forced to join Morocco’s junior athletics team. In 2003, during a race in France, he took a risk from which he and his family have never recovered. Today, Salah is not only one of the highest profile Sahrawi activists in the world, but is seen by his people as a hero, a symbol, an ambassador and a spokesman for the Western Sahara liberation movement. The Runner tells the story of a champion long-distance runner whose journey transformed him from an athlete into the symbol of a national liberation movement.

This screening is held in partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council as part of Refugee Week Scotland and will be followed by a discussion.

Refugee Week Scotland 2014: Discover the dynamism and vibrancy of Scotland’s cultures through a programme of 120 music, theatre, dance, film, discussion, visual arts, community celebrations and workshops, taking place across Scotland. For more details, see: refugeeweekscotland.com