Name Me Lawand

Play trailer

Name Me Lawand

2023

1h 31m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Lawand is a young Kurdish boy, deaf since birth. At five years old his future in Iraq looks destined to be limited and lonely. In desperate search of a better life in a world where he can communicate, his family decide to leave their home. After a treacherous journey and a year in a refugee camp, the help of a deaf volunteer brings them to Derby where Lawand joins the Royal School for the Deaf. As he grows older, the film follows his dramatic progress learning British Sign Language, revealing a bright, charismatic and inquisitive boy, who discovers friendship and a new way to express himself. But just as Lawand is joyfully finding his place in the world, the family face deportation from the UK.

Helen O'Hara

Empire Magazine

07/17/2023

4/5

A beautifully shot, intimate and powerful story about hope and discovery and the power of talking to one another no matter what barriers stand between us.

Go to Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

07/09/2023

4/5

Even without documentary director Edward Lovelace’s inventive approach, this would be a potent and powerful story.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

07/07/2023

4/5

It is by turns dreamy, sad, wistful and vividly affectionate.

Go to Full Review

Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

Mar 11

Both devastating and hopeful, this award-winning documentary depicts a young child's trauma, but also offers a window into the incredible effect the right kind of help and support can have.

Go to Full Review

Clotilde Chinnici

Loud and Clear Reviews

09/15/2024

4/5

As I was watching Name Me Lawand, I could not help but wonder: how many Lawands are there in the world? How many are there whose story goes unsung and unheard?

Go to Full Review

Tom Shone

Sunday Times (UK)

08/02/2023

4/5

Lovelace’s sinuously crafted film, shot over the course of four years, uses ambient sound design and a dollying camera to reproduce, as faithfully as possible, the oceanic rollercoaster of Lawand’s world.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Edward Lovelace

Director

Edward Lovelace

Writer

Fleur Nieddu

Producer

Edward Lovelace

Producer

Sam Arnold

Producer

Beyan Taher

Producer

Trophy

96%

83%

Trophy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Trophy

The Hermit of Treig

100%

83%

The Hermit of Treig

Watchlist

The Possibilities Are Endless

94%

56%

The Possibilities Are Endless

Watchlist

Electric Malady

83%

%

Electric Malady

Watchlist

Claire Facing North

%

%

Claire Facing North

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Lawand is a young Kurdish boy, deaf since birth. At five years old his future in Iraq looks destined to be limited and lonely. In desperate search of a better life in a world where he can communicate, his family decide to leave their home. After a treacherous journey and a year in a refugee camp, the help of a deaf volunteer brings them to Derby where Lawand joins the Royal School for the Deaf. As he grows older, the film follows his dramatic progress learning British Sign Language, revealing a bright, charismatic and inquisitive boy, who discovers friendship and a new way to express himself. But just as Lawand is joyfully finding his place in the world, the family face deportation from the UK.

Director: Edward Lovelace
Producer: Fleur Nieddu, Edward Lovelace, Sam Arnold, Beyan Taher, Neil Andrews, Marisa Clifford
Screenwriter: Edward Lovelace
Production Co: Pulse Films, The Electric Shadow Company
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 31m