Death is a troublesome business

Khaled Khalifa, one of the most significant Arab authors, writes from his hometown of Damascus about current devastations and timeless hopes: an extraordinary road trip through a destroyed country. A unique journey through Syria: the three siblings Fâtima, Hussain, and Bulbul are taking their deceased father back to his hometown in Hussain's minibus. In earlier times, this would have been no problem, but in the midst of war, it becomes an almost insurmountable task: the country is riddled with roadblocks set up by competing armed groups, and the travelers face almost absurd obstacles along the way. During the long drive from Damascus in the south to their father's village north of Aleppo, the three siblings reflect on their memories of family life.