Tracing Addai

Tracing Addai is a potent and thoughtful 2018 documentary film that questions the meaning of home, identity, and personal destiny. This German-made film is directed by Brit Esteban and comes with stellar performances by Benito Bause and Kais Setti in the leading roles.

The film focuses on the complex and emotionally charged journey of Addai, a young man from an immigrant family who starts looking for his place in the world. His journey away from home, into the heart of the Syrian war, leaves a trail of questions, confusion, and heartbreak behind.

The narrative of Tracing Addai is constructed around the accounts of two individuals closely associated with Addai. Benito Bause delivers an artful performance as Ilias, Addai’s childhood friend, while Kais Setti portrays the concerned father of Addai. Through their perspectives, the audience is introduced to the character of Addai.

Ilias, his childhood friend, offers a devastating inside look at the evolution of Addai, from a jovial teenager full of dreams to a man swayed by the influence of radical ideologies. Ilias struggles as he attempts to reconcile the person he once knew with the person Addai has become. Where empathetic and unstinting, Bause's portrayal of Ilias serves as a touchstone for the audience's anguish and disbelief, highlighting the bonds of friendship and loyalty while confronting bewildering change and loss.

Equally impactful is Kais Setti's portrayal of Addai's father. His performance uncovers the depth of a parent's love and despair when faced with the unthinkable. With force and determination, Setti's character grapples with the dual role of being a loving father and a grieving parent, demanding answers and seeking accountability. He attempts to understand how his son, who he had raised with love and care, could drift so far away.

At its core, Tracing Addai is not just about the transformation of a young man but also about the ripple effects of this transformation on friendship and family. It is about the search for belonging and understanding in a world that often appears polarized and unforgiving, about the journey one undertakes to escape alienation and to find a sense of purpose.

Esteban's direction is understated yet potent. Rather than telling us What to think, the director draws us in, allowing us to empathize and reflect, and in doing so, we come closer to understanding the depth and breadth of human emotions. By refusing to resort to sensationalism, Tracing Addai becomes a deeply human film, inviting the audience to ponder over the layers of complexities that frame an individual's life choices, decisions and actions.

While the narrative of the film is compelling and thought-provoking, it’s the film’s technical aspects, such as the animation style, the camera work, and the sound design that add a layer of profundity to the whole experience. The animation adds a layer of abstraction, allowing the audience to connect with the story on a deeper level, while the sound design enhances the immersion and emotional resonance.

Brit Esteban's Tracing Addai is a challenging film, but one that is deeply rewarding. It allows the audience to peel back the layers of its narrative slowly, revealing the complex web of human emotions, dilemmas, and contradictions beneath. The film is a heartbreaking yet necessary exploration of heart-wrenching realities that many individuals and their families across the world have sadly become part of.

By not shying away from hard questions, Tracing Addai challenges easy assumptions and compels viewers to reflect upon the broader narratives and social contexts that factor into individual life choices. It is a film that stays with the viewer, urging one to engage in dialogue, to understand, and perhaps, even to change. Tracing Addai shows that in the darkest corners of human experience, there are stories that need to be told, lessons to be learned, and above all, empathy to be shared. This is a film that is both timely and timeless in its exploration of the human condition.