The Wait

Rokhsar is 14 years old and lives with her family in Denmark. She speaks fluent Danish and plays football at a local club. In spite of the fact that she has been living there for five years and is completely integrated, she still does not have a residency permit. Waiting for that final confirmation takes forever and places a heavy burden on the young
teenager.

Five years ago, Rokhsar Sediqi fled Afghanistan with her family and ended up in Denmark. She quickly mastered the language and is the only one in her family who speaks fluent Danish. She also attends middle school and plays football at a local club. However, the family never got a residency permit and now runs the risk of being sent back.

This would be a nightmare for the young teenager, who is totally immersed in Danish life. Because her parents do not speak the language, Rokhsar is the one who handles all communication with the authorities. As a last resort, the family submits a new application through a lawyer, based on the complete integration of their teenage daughter. For Rokhsar, it is a demanding task: not only must she continually call the immigration services and act as interpreter, now the fate of her family also depends on how well she performs. The pressure is almost too much for her.

The filmmakers follow the teenager’s daily life and also show the compassion of friends, acquaintances and neighbours, who are as helpless as Rokhsar and other refugees against Denmark’s strict immigration policy.

Text: Annika Wubbolt