Games?
‘Games’ by Patrick Oberholzer is a remarkable book – remarkable in its oversized format, remarkable in its dramatic design, and particularly remarkable in its message. It is also a very instructive book. It makes us aware of the traumatic experiences of many Afghans refugees who arrive in comfortable Western Europe.
“We speak of ‘games’ to refer to our attempts to cross a border. Not in the sense of having fun, but in the sense of ‘testing our fate’. A game may be won, but it may equally well be lost.” So said one of the five refugees whose stories are described in this book.
A few pages about Afghanistan’s history and the current political situation help readers orient themselves. Then come the details of the individual escape stories. Hamid is from near Kabul, Muhammed from Kunduz, Ziya from Daikondi in the west. Afsaneh and Nima were already living in Iran when they decided to flee to the West.
Journey
Step by step, despite hunger, bitter cold, betrayal, raids and shootings, they find their way through the mountains, on long treks, across rivers. Here and there they hide, unwanted, waiting for the next smuggler. Sometimes they are able to stay in miserable rooms and do some kind of temporary work to pay for their upkeep. Their routes are presented in full dramatic graphics, Overlaid with text boxes and speech bubbles.
Each of these young people has a background, and a family, which they have had to abandon or which they lose along the way. They have all deposited large sums of money in virtual accounts that are managed via phone calls. The smugglers only receive partial payments when it is confirmed that the refugee has been brought to an intermediate destination.
Their journey takes years – via Iran, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia. One sentence speaks volumes: “Three boats out of our six made it”.
Arrival
When they finally arrive in Germany or Switzerland, the laborious process of applying for asylum, learning the language, and looking for a job begins. Their debts, shattered families, and unrealized dreams still hang over them.
‘Games’ is an exceptional work of art that skillfully depicts the harsh realities faced by Afghan refugees without engaging in any argumentative discussions. It deserves a wide readership, but unfortunately, it is only available in German.
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