10 Fantasy Films About Refugees to Watch

Description: Dorothy's adventure in Oz, where she seeks to return home, can be interpreted as a refugee's longing for their homeland while navigating a strange new world.

Fact: Judy Garland's iconic ruby slippers were originally silver in the book, and the film was one of the first to use Technicolor.

Description: Bastian, a boy who feels like an outsider, finds solace in a book that transports him to Fantasia, a world in peril. His journey through this magical land reflects the refugee's quest for a place to belong.

Fact: The film's iconic theme song was performed by Limahl, and the film was a box office hit in Germany before gaining international acclaim.

Description: While not explicitly about refugees, Buttercup's journey through various fantastical landscapes and her escape from an arranged marriage can be seen as a metaphor for fleeing from oppressive circumstances.

Fact: The film was adapted from a novel by William Goldman, and it has become a cult classic with a dedicated fan base.

Description: In this surreal film, children are kidnapped to steal their dreams, and a young girl named Miette becomes a refugee in a bizarre, dream-like city, searching for a way out.

Fact: The film was co-directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, and it features a mix of live-action and stop-motion animation.

Description: This film follows the Pevensie children as they escape from war-torn London into the magical world of Narnia, where they become refugees in a land under the tyranny of the White Witch. Their journey mirrors the refugee experience of seeking safety and a new home.

Fact: The film was shot in New Zealand, and the wardrobe used in the movie was inspired by C.S. Lewis's own wardrobe at his home.

Description: Set in post-Civil War Spain, Ofelia, a young girl, escapes into a fantastical world to cope with the harsh realities of her stepfather's fascist regime. Her journey through the labyrinth can be seen as a metaphor for seeking refuge from oppression.

Fact: The film was shot entirely in Spain, and the faun's horns were made from real deer antlers.

Description: Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves, fleeing from their destroyed homeland, seek to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, embodying the refugee's quest for a lost home.

Fact: The film was shot in New Zealand, and it features extensive use of CGI to bring the dragon Smaug to life.

Description: In this Jim Henson creation, Jen, a Gelfling, must restore balance to his world, which is under threat from the Skeksis. His quest for the shard of the Dark Crystal symbolizes the refugee's search for a new beginning.

Fact: The film used over 70 different puppeteers, and it took five years to complete.

Description: Chihiro's journey into the spirit world after her parents are turned into pigs can be seen as a metaphor for displacement and the struggle to find one's way back home.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and it was inspired by the director's own childhood experiences.

Description: Brendan, a young boy in medieval Ireland, seeks to complete an illuminated manuscript, symbolizing the preservation of culture amidst Viking invasions, akin to refugees safeguarding their heritage.

Fact: The film's unique animation style was inspired by Celtic art, and it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.