Aida (Thalita Beltrão Sørensen) is just a high school student, but she has big dreams for herself. The government has other plans for Aida, however, and two police officers are tasked with escorting her to the airport, where she will be deported back to Syria. Being sent back to Syria is nothing short of a death sentence–and The Deportation of a Model Citizen weighs heavily on all involved. The fate of Aida is firmly in the grasp of just about everyone but Aida–and only time will tell if she will survive this fate. Based on true events, this story of pain and compassion is wild and bumpy.
Backed by a slow, harrowing, reverberating score, The Deportation of a Model Citizen hits home quickly, reeling in viewers, allowing them to understand the severity of the situation in which Aida finds herself. This frustrating sound is almost deafening, numbing–and that brilliantly echoes the way in which Aida (and many of the other characters) would have felt throughout the course of this journey. The score is such a pivotal part of the development of this story and its characters. It’s a simple approach to music, but its purpose is easily understood–and it works not only to supplement the visuals, but it also sometimes acts as the primary source of emotion in certain moments of The Deportation of a Model Citizen.
There are some subtle ideas present throughout The Deportation of a Model Citizen–and I appreciate the subtlety. It allows viewers to fill in the blanks and better appreciate the film as a result. Some themes such as religion and the LGBTQ+ community play a role in the film. Again, the hints to these things are subtle, and it seems in a lot of ways that Writer-Director Jacob Thomas Pilgaard and Writer Pernille Hyllegaard want these things to remain hidden in the more sentimental and important moments of the film. They play a role in helping to develop the characters throughout The Deportation of a Model Citizen. They don’t necessarily help to develop the story in any way, but that seems to be understood by this crew–hence the subtly.
It’s a bold move keeping these things out of the veritable spotlight in The Deportation of a Model Citizen due to how hot these topics currently are in the world. Knowing, however, that they don’t necessarily play a role in altering the narrative, it makes perfect sense why they would act as tertiary pieces to the puzzle. The reality is that these things are left open to interpretation, and that it’s possible that they don’t play any role in the film if you don’t want them to. This aspect of the film is wonderfully dynamic, and it invites both a standard and a more unique group of viewers into the film’s orbit.
I’m incredibly impressed with Joey Moe and the character he portrays, Lasse. He’s this tense, stoic individual who, through a good portion of the film, is tasked with being what keeps the film grounded. In a lot of ways he is the most important character and actor in the entire film. Due to the fact that he remains so even keeled throughout the course of The Deportation of a Model Citizen, seeing his emotion at the conclusion of the film becomes that much more important, that much more tangible. He becomes the catalyst for the film’s emotion–and that’s due to a combination of the stellar writing and Moe’s ability to convey Lasse in such a sophisticated manner. There’s a lot to like about The Deportation of a Model Citizen, but I think that Moe and Lasse are my favorite part.
The Deportation of a Model Citizen is a dark drama about the struggles of deportation and the refugee crisis that exists still today. The world is able to dive deep into the intricacies of what goes on here, and it appears to do it justice (I’m no expert, but it seems to be historically accurate, and effectively sympathetic to the right group). The Deportation of a Model Citizen is methodic in its telling of this tale, and the subtleties of the film, coupled with the powerful writing, allows every piece of the film to come to life with great aplomb.
Directed by Jacob Thomas Pilgaard.
Written by Pernille Hyllegaard & Jacob Thomas Pilgaard.
Starring Thalita Beltrão Sørensen, Cecilie Elisabeth Bogø Bach, Tine Gotthelf, Mads Hjulmand, Joe Moe, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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