For decades, the Greek island of Lesbos has been a destination for many European tourists who want to enjoy a sunny vacation. But since 2015, the island has also been visited by thousands of people on the run make the crossing to the island from Turkey in an inflatable boat in search of a safe haven in the European Union.

In August 2015, filmmakers Philip Brink and Marieke van der Velden invited tourists and refugees to talk to each other about life while sitting on a bench overlooking the sea. The result is a short 23-minute documentary with conversations about war, flight, home, work, love, as well as cars and pets. It is an ode to humanism and shows what happens when we take the time to talk to each other instead of about each other.

This project has been screened and published in many places all over the world, and was even shared by Chris Martin from Coldplay.

Recently - in 2023 - Philip and Marieke have a new project ready: ‘Children of the Labyrinth’. In it, nine parents on the run - all stranded in Greece - have written impressive and loving letters to their children traveling with them.

The letters give a deep human insight into what it really feels like for a parent to have to take your little kid to a life-threatening labyrinth of steel walls, violent pushbacks, human traffickers and tent camps, without wanting to.

After a long journey through Europe, all of the people in this documentary have safely reached Germany or Austria. In those past years, they have rebuilt their lives.

For example, Suhaila married a Syrian man in Germany and already has two children. Rashad turned out to be a real entrepreneur and opened his own bakery/lunchroom. Husam started studying again and Hassan has his own online YouTube channel where he playfully teaches people Arabic-English.

In the years since 2015, hundreds of thousands of people have arrived in the European Union by rubber boat through the Greek islands. What drove them to this fearful journey? Why did they flee? You can read more about the background of this exodus here. (In 2023, we have written an updated version).

How was this film made? Did everyone want to participate? And were people cast for this film? Click here if you want a little peek behind the scenes.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

We hope the film motivates people to talk to each other instead of about each other. The benches in the park or by the sea quietly await our conversations. You can help us share this message as much as possible:

Share the film or trailer on your social media, or with students in your class. Use it as an introduction to a debate on refugee policies with your city council or show it to your grandmother during family dinner.

If you download the question cards we used in the documentary, you can even organize your own "bench afternoon" at your school or local refugee center. There are also questions available for children. Here are some photos of bench afternoons.