Samira Rehmert

“Vater der Gurken” (engl. “Father of the Cucumbers”) is an animated documentary short film about a German-Syrian family in the 1970s who embark on a journey to Aleppo to return to the father’s homeland. Throughout the film, two family members share their perspectives and memories of leaving Germany for Syria, going on a multi-day journey, arriving in Aleppo without speaking a word of Arabic, and learning to feel at home in the beautiful city of Aleppo. “Vater der Gurken” is a personal family history as well as a testimony of life choices and migration in the 1970s — in the opposite direction of how migration is often discussed in the western context nowadays.

A film by
Birte Rauch & Samira Rehmert

Duration
11 minutes, 37 seconds

Genre
Animation, documentary, short

Style
2D-animation with illustration and archival photographic material

Completed
October 2024

Language
German audio, English subtitles

illustrated character next to a photograph of the mum — Character “Hedi” in the color schemes for Germany and Syria next to the real Hedi

Character “Abt” in the color schemes for Germany and Syria next to the real Abt

Character “Nadi” in the color schemes for Germany and Syria next to the real Nadi

Character “Rali” in the color schemes for Germany and Syria next to the real Rali

The different locations of Germany and Syria are marked in the color scheme of the entire film including the characters, so during the movement of the family there is a shift in colors and atmosphere. For the story, Germany is portrayed in a somewhat gloomy and cloudy light, while Syria is depicted in warm, sandy colours – in keeping with the emotions of the characters.

From a distance the characters are recognisable in an abstract, reduced form and have more detail in close-up views.

overview of illustrated character mom in different shot sizes — Shot sizes of character “Hedi”, the mum

overview of illustrated character dad in different shot sizes — Shot sizes of character “Abt”, the dad

overview of illustrated character daughter “Nadi” in different shot sizes — Shot sizes of character “Nadi”, the older daughter

overview of illustrated character daughter “Rali” — Shot sizes of character “Rali”, the younger daughter

illustrated character standing on a blue hill with photocollage buildings — Character “Hedi” in southern Germany, still image from the film

illustrated character in warm colours sitting in the photographic city landscape of Aleppo — Character “Nadi” in Aleppo, Syria, still image from the film

illustrated characters between houses, black and white — Characters “Nadi” and “Rali” during bomb alert in Syria, still image from the film

illustrated character in warm colours lying between photographic jasmine flowers — Character “Nadi” between jasmine flowers in Syria, still image from the film

Idea, Animation, Illustration & Dramaturgy
Birte Rauch & Samira Rehmert

Music
Anas Homsi

Dramaturgy Consulting
Lena Langer & Jonathan Carl

Title & Credit Letterings
Samira Rehmert

Special Thanks to
Prof. Klaus Dufke, Prof. Lisa Bucher, Joh Weisgerber

Title and credit animation and letterings

Animation & Illu

Photography

Lettering