“Every refugee has a dream. They dream of a better life,” says Mariam Shaar in an exclusive trailer for “Soufra.” She’s spent her entire life in a refugee camp south of Beirut, Lebanon, where she can’t find work. Determined to transform her fate, Mariam decides to effect change. “What can we do to improve our situation?” she asks other refugees. The group of women decide to launch Soufra, a catering company, then resolve to expand its reach by making it a food truck business. The documentary follows their journey.
“We realize our worth. We feel more accomplished,” one of the women says. As Mariam observes, they are “becoming a symbol of hope to others.” But there are roadblocks in their way. They struggle to get government approval for their business. “There are a lot of obstacles — regulations and laws regarding these people. It’s unjust for them,” we’re told.
Despite the unfavorable odds, Mariam and her team persist. “Women can do anything,” one of the Soufra collaborators declares. “Especially in these times, women can do anything.”
Directed by Thomas Morgan (“Storied Streets”), “Soufra” will premiere at the DOC NYC film festival on November 12. You can catch it in LA starting November 17 and NYC December 15.
