New film explores how Syrian refugees would live in Alberta's cowboy culture

A movie about a Syrian refugee family arriving to Canada is filmingin Calgary and surrounding areas.

The Canadian feature filmJasmine Road follows aSyrian familyand explores how they would live in a small rural town in Alberta.

According to a release, the film follows "arecently widowed western rancher [who] takes in a Syrian refugee family in the small conservative town of Red River.Jasmine Roadis a subtle yet positive political film about the power of acceptance, understanding and love."

Jasmine Road

5 years ago

Duration 1:39

The Canadian feature film "Jasmine Road," explores the idea of a Syrian family and how they would survive in a small rural town in Alberta.

Warren Sulatycky, director and writer of the new feature, said he's always been passionate about making independent films that tell deep human stories.

"I still believe in telling small stories in your backyard," he said.

Sulatycky said inspiration for the story came after the first wave of Syrian refugees arrived to Canada in 2015.

"There was a lot of front page news, but then the stories disappeared," Sulatycky said. "You didn't hear much about what happens to the refugees when they settle in Canada and what their lives are like."

Sulatycky then spent years of research in order to craftan amalgamation of mid-western Canadian cowboy culture and the Syrian refugee crisis.

"It dawned on me one day while I was in southern Alberta driving through Longview 'I think these two stories could work together,'" he said.

The next step was finding actors to tell the story, which tookSulatyckyabout ayear and a half.

"I didn't want people to fake the culture so they had to come from the culture. Not necessarily Syrian, but from the Arabic world," he said.

Meet the actors

Aixa Kay, who plays Layla and is aSaudi-Canadian actor, said the role was meaningful for herbecause of her volunteer experience at the Vancouver Association for the Survivors of Torture British Columbia'slargest centre for refugee mental health.

"It was wonderful to be able to witness a lot of those experiences and to be able to act in a movie that's presenting another human experience related to refugees," she said.

She said what stood out for her was that Jasmine Roadis a story centred around hope.

"It really follows them on their journey towardmaking home somewhere else and toward their personal healing," saidKay.

The youngest actress inthe film isMelody Mokhtari, who plays Heba, Layla's daughter.

Mokhtarisaid she was happy the film was being released and would raise awareness surrounding Syrian refugees.

"There just isn't enough publicity I love how we've had this chance to portray this big of a role in this amazing journey," she said.

Mokhtari said the way two worlds come together in the film is "incredible" with her character's family losing their home and the western rancher that takes them in having just lost his wife.

Conservative character

Greg Ellwand, who plays a rancher namedMac, saidhis character loves the world the way it isbut undergoes a journey of tolerance.

"He has to learn that his love has got to expand exponentially he's got to expand himself and come out," he said.

Sulatycky explained thatMacrepresents aconservative side of politics and people who are concernedwith their own lives and jobs.

"Mac represents that side of the spectrum where they're really trying to look out for themselves because life is hard," he said.

Sulatyckysaid while there are valid arguments against complete open borders, the film recognizes the need for acceptance.

"There's so much negativity in the world these days and there's so much borders closing and people wanting to build walls around themselves, their homes and their countries,"Sulatyckysaid.

"The message I want people to come away with this film is that we must open our hearts to everybody."

Jasmine Roadis set to be completed in 2020.