IMDb 7.9 2014 HD

A World Not Ours

A World Not Ours

2014
Documentary
93 min NR Lebanon
8 / 10
7.9 IMDB

An intimate, and often humorous, portrait of three generations of exile in the refugee camp of Ein el-Helweh, in southern Lebanon. Based on a wealth of personal recordings,…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Mahdi Fleifel
Starring
Mahdi Fleifel

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

intimate poignant humorous sensitive resilient yearning familial authentic dispossessed observational reflective

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
Apr 20, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

This is more than a documentary; it is a living archive of resilience. 'A World Not Ours' offers a deeply personal and often humorous look at three generations living in exile within the Ein el-Helweh refugee camp. The…

O
Oliver Hayes
Apr 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A deeply affecting and elegantly constructed documentary, 'A World Not Ours' offers a rare and intimate window into the lives of those in the Ein el-Helweh refugee camp. The film’s foundation in personal archives and family footage imbues…

S
Sophia Davies
Apr 20, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

'A World Not Ours' presents a sensitive and often humorous portrait of life within the Ein el-Helweh refugee camp. By drawing heavily on personal recordings and family archives, the film achieves an intimate connection with its subjects, spanning…

B
Benjamin Carter
Apr 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a profoundly personal and illuminating work. 'A World Not Ours' invites us into the lives of three generations within a Lebanese refugee camp, a space where yearning is a constant companion. The film’s strength lies in…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 20, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Mahdi Fleifel's 'A World Not Ours' is a remarkable achievement, offering an unflinchingly honest yet remarkably tender gaze upon life in the Ein el-Helweh refugee camp. Through a masterful interweaving of personal archives and present-day observations, the film…

FAQs

'A World Not Ours' portrays exile not as a singular event but as a continuous state of being. It illustrates how dispossession becomes the norm, shaping daily lives and fostering a pervasive sense of yearning for what has been lost or never known. The film's intimate focus on family and friendship within the refugee camp highlights the ways in which individuals create meaning and connection, even when their sense of belonging is constantly challenged.