As If I Am Not There

Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 1992. A young soldier walks into your apartment and tells you to pack your things. Amazed that no one protests or fights back, you find yourself rounded up with the other women and driven to a remote warehouse where you learn the harsh rules of surviving camp life: Do not think of life outside. Do not think about the past. Do not think about the future. Do not concern yourself with other people. Do not stand out. Keep your mind occupied. Do not give in to the hatred you see around you. Above all, do not believe the rumours you hear... And then the soldier enters and points at you: “Come!”

As If I Am Not There is a story of a young woman from Sarajevo whose life is shattered the day a young soldier walks into her apartment. Stripped of everything she ever had and facing the constant threat of death, she struggles against all the hatred she sees around her. In a final act of courage or madness, she decides to make one last stand: to dare to be herself. And this simple act saves her life. It’s when she realises that surviving means more than staying alive that she has to make a decision that will change her life forever. As If I Am Not There is a modern war story that explores love, identity and the connections between us.

IFF Phoenix, Istanbul, Palm Springs, Irish Film and Tv Awards 2011 - Best Film, Best Director