Return to Babylon Documentary Film Screening

The Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association (ACEYA) (Wellington Branch) is excited to present a special screening of 'Return to Babylon'—the only one of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The documentary film takes you on an Assyrian family’s journey as they visit the Assyrian Homeland after years of living in France.

This is a story of reconnecting with one’s roots, identity, and people.

Following the screening, we will have a pre-recorded Q&A session which includes the film's director, Sébastien Daycard-Heid, and Sémiramis Ide and Agnes Ide Banipal—two of the film's protagonists.

Synopsis:

Sémiramis is French, an Eastern Christian, and Assyro-Chaldean. In the Val-d'Oise region, this community, originally from Turkey and Iraq, has lived since the 1980s in a rhythm marked by weddings, church services, and family meals.

Shaped by the exile of their parents and the persecution their community faced under the Turkish dictatorship and Daesh, Sémiramis nurtures her roots in Assyrian civilization, originating from Mesopotamia. But the puzzle of her history no longer fits together as it once did.

Gradually, the elders are disappearing, taking with them an identity and culture that is 6,000 years old. How can this fracture be repaired, and this heritage preserved? Should they consider staying or returning to their ancestral homeland, now that peace has returned? Can one go back after decades of conflict? Can they rebuild and start anew to live in peace with themselves and others?

"Return to Babylon" is a road movie from Sarcelles to Erbil, following Sémiramis and her family on a journey that leads them to question their future in France and the fate of their community in the Middle East.

A film by Marie Dault, Sémiramis Ide, and Sébastien Daycard-Heid
Directed by Sébastien Daycard-Heid
Screen time: 52-minutes; French and Assyrian with subtitles
Link to the English-subtitled trailer: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDzsYJzt_B9/

The screening event will be held at the Cockburn Street Chapel, 1 Cockburn Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington from 5-7pm.

Entrance is free, but please register to confirm your attendance.

We welcome koha (donations) which will go towards supporting the ACEYA Wellington Branch's youth-focused activities and events.