Watch film programmer Erifili Missiou’s take on Name Me Lawand, Edward Lovelace’s inspirational and moving documentary.

Name Me Lawand opens with a Kurdish family migrating to the UK seeking a brighter future for their profoundly deaf son. Remarkably, Lawand’s parents discourage him from learning Sign Language, insisting he communicates as a non-deaf person, which deepens his sense of isolation.

Seeing Lawand transform from a withdrawn and lonely to a confident individual after learning BSL and connecting to the D/ deaf community is a rewarding experience. It’s also heartwarming to witness the immigrant family gradually embracing BSL and be actively supported by the Derby community against deportation.

What initially feels like an ableist melancholic storyline slowly unfolds into one of empowerment and liberation, as Lawand and his family navigate the challenges of migration whilst discovering the power of communication. A truly empowering documentary, this is a must-see.

Name Me Lawand is showing at The Garden Cinema from Friday 7th July