Even After Death

by D. F. Herman | 2020 | 55 min

‘Even After Death’ addresses the harrowing reality faced by over 20,000 people who have perished since 2014 while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea and the Evros River along the Turkey-Greece border. With most victims found without identification documents, recognizing and identifying the deceased becomes a nearly impossible task. The film explores how coroners and forensic experts in different parts of Greece tackle this issue and advocates for an internationally recognized system of human rights that extends even beyond death.

The narrative takes viewers through marked and unmarked graves across Greece, where countless refugees have been buried since the crisis began. It poignantly captures the immense difficulty families encounter when trying to locate a deceased relative, be it in morgues or cemeteries. Through the heart-wrenching story of Fereshta, an Afghan woman who survived a tragic shipwreck, ‘Even After Death’ reveals the heartbreaking experiences of thousands of refugees who have lost loved ones while attempting to reach Europe. The film sheds light on the often-overlooked aspects of refugee body identification, DNA collection, culturally appropriate funerals, and the systematic identification of personal effects and grave-marking.

Conceptualized, written and filmed by refugees who survived the perilous Mediterranean crossing, ‘Even After Death’ is a powerful testament to their collective story. This film is a co-production of Refocus Media Labs and Minority Rights Group, with financial support from the European Union. Directed by co-founder Douglas F. Herman and one of the first students, Said Reza Hossini Adib, the film also features an original score by rising American composer Eamon Kelly. Although the Covid-19 crisis forced the postponement of its world premiere at the 2020 Movies That Matter Festival in Den Haag, Netherlands, the film’s urgent and compelling message continues to resonate.