Flee is a mixed-media presentation written by (with Amin Nawabi) and directed by Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen.  An interesting backstory about the circumstances of the making of the film begins during Rasmussen’s years in high school when he was 15 years old. He met Amin when the 16 year-old refugee arrived from Afghanistan by way of the Soviet Union. When he arrived in Rasmussen’s hometown in Denmark, Amin never told anybody the harrowing story of how he got there all by himself.

 Rasmussen continued his friendship with Amin and began asking him to tell his story about 15 years ago. But Amin was not ready but assured Rasmussen he would tell him when the time was right. It took 25 years of trying before Rasmussen got Amin to sit down and fill in the details of his life.

 Because Amin Nawabi is a pseudonym used to protect his family, the film director felt that using animation would be a good way to create a safe and interesting way to tell Amin’s story on film. Thus, we have Flee.

 Growing up in Afghanistan Amin always knew he was different because he was attracted to men. But in that part of the world it seems gays don’t exist or the official word is that there are no gay people! So, he had to hold that secret for 20 years. When the Soviet Union flopped in their war efforts in Afghanistan, Amin and his family had to flee. They ended up in Moscow in a worse predicament and knew they had to flee once more toward the West. It’s a terrifying tale of unscrupulous human traffickers in every country along the way. Amin had to bury his sexual orientation or be killed.

Rasmussen has used a combination of artistically innovative animation and splashes of color mixed in with actual footage of real film taken in Kabul and other locations. It’s a fascinating use of the medium in its various ways of telling a story. It’s no mystery that Amin made it to the West and has a more fulfilling life with his male mate, which may account for a happier ending than was expected.

The director and Amin have brought to the forefront the dire conditions of many gay/lesbian/transgender people around the world. It can only be hoped that this terrific film can enlighten the haters to see that gay people are human beings just like everybody else.

(Released by NEON and rated “PG-13” for thematic content, disturbing images and strong language.)