An Afghan refugee's dangerous journey from Pakistan to London becomes a story of survival, separation, and loss.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Leaving the Refugee Camp
Jamal and Enayat leave the Peshawar refugee camp and travel through Pakistan toward Taftan. They pay smugglers in preparation for crossing into Iran.
Key Events
Life in Peshawar Camp — Jamal and Enayat live as Afghan refugees in the Peshawar camp. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Peshawar refugee camp
Journey to Quetta — The two refugees leave Peshawar and travel toward Quetta. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Road to Quetta
Arrival at Taftan — Jamal and Enayat reach Taftan near the Iranian border. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Taftan
Smuggler Payment — They pay people smugglers to help them cross the border. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Taftan border region
The Border Setback
Their first attempt to cross the Iranian border fails when Iranian police stop and return them to Pakistan. They attempt the crossing again despite the danger.
Key Events
Smuggler Payment — They pay people smugglers to help them cross the border. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Taftan border region
First Border Attempt — Their first attempt to enter Iran is stopped by Iranian police. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Pakistan-Iran border
Return to Pakistan — Iranian police return Jamal and Enayat to Pakistan. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Pakistan border area
Second Border Attempt — They make a second attempt to cross into Iran. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Pakistan-Iran border
Successful Entry — The second attempt succeeds, allowing them to enter Iran. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Iranian border region
Across Iran and Mountains
After successfully entering Iran, the two refugees travel through Tehran and Maku. They cross the mountains on foot toward Turkey.
Key Events
Successful Entry — The second attempt succeeds, allowing them to enter Iran. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Iranian border region
Travel to Tehran — Jamal and Enayat travel onward to Tehran. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Road to Tehran
Move Toward Maku — They continue to Maku in the Kurdish part of Iran. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Maku
Mountain Crossing — They cross a mountain range on foot toward Turkey. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Mountain range between Iran and Turkey
Arrival in Istanbul — Jamal and Enayat arrive in Istanbul and encounter other migrants. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Istanbul
The Deadly Container
In Istanbul, Jamal and Enayat join migrants transported inside an unventilated shipping container. Enayat and most of the refugees suffocate, while Jamal survives.
Key Events
Arrival in Istanbul — Jamal and Enayat arrive in Istanbul and encounter other migrants. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Istanbul
Container Departure — The migrants are taken to Italy inside a shipping container. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Istanbul shipping area
Airless Container — The container lacks ventilation, placing the refugees in mortal danger. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Inside the shipping container
Enayat Dies — Most refugees suffocate, including Enayat, while Jamal survives. Characters: Jamal, EnayatLocation: Shipping container en route to Italy
Life in Italy — Jamal survives and lives in Italy for a period of time. Characters: JamalLocation: Italy
A Final Crossing
Jamal travels through Italy and Paris before reaching the Sangatte camp. He hides in a lorry to cross the English Channel and arrives in London alone.
Key Events
Life in Italy — Jamal survives and lives in Italy for a period of time. Characters: JamalLocation: Italy
Purse Theft — Jamal steals a woman's purse to obtain money for onward travel. Characters: JamalLocation: Italy
Train Ticket to Paris — Jamal uses the stolen money to buy a rail ticket to Paris. Characters: JamalLocation: Italian railway station
Sangatte Camp — Jamal reaches the Sangatte asylum seekers camp near the Channel. Characters: JamalLocation: Sangatte asylum seekers camp
Crossing the Channel — Jamal crosses the English Channel by hiding in a lorry. Characters: JamalLocation: English Channel
Arrival in London — Jamal arrives in London and calls his uncle. Characters: JamalLocation: London
Enayat Is Not Here — Jamal tells his uncle that Enayat is not in this world. Characters: JamalLocation: London
Return to Peshawar — The film ends with images of the refugees in Peshawar.
Location: Peshawar refugee camp
Story Breakdown
Camp Origins — Jamal and Enayat begin as Afghan refugees in Peshawar and decide to leave.
Peshawar Refugees — Jamal and Enayat live in the Peshawar refugee camp.
Departure Decision — They travel from Peshawar toward Quetta and Taftan.
Border Pressure — The refugees depend on smugglers and face repeated attempts to enter Iran.
Smuggler Payment — They pay people smugglers near Taftan.
Police Rejection — Iranian police stop their first crossing and return them to Pakistan.
Iranian Passage — The second attempt succeeds, opening a difficult route through Iran.
Successful Crossing — Jamal and Enayat enter Iran on their second attempt.
Road To Maku — They travel through Tehran toward Maku.
Mountain Escape — The two refugees cross the Iranian mountains on foot to reach Turkey.
Foot Journey — They walk across a mountain range.
Istanbul Arrival — They reach Istanbul and meet other migrants.
Container Tragedy — A concealed journey to Italy turns into a deadly ordeal for the refugees.
Unventilated Transport — Migrants are confined inside a shipping container without ventilation.
Enayat's Death — Enayat suffocates while Jamal survives.
London Survival — Alone after Enayat's death, Jamal continues across Europe and reaches London.
Route Through Europe — Jamal lives in Italy, steals a purse, and buys a ticket to Paris.
Final Channel Crossing — He hides in a lorry from Sangatte and crosses to England.
Loss And Memory — Jamal reports his arrival while acknowledging that Enayat did not survive.
Call From London — Jamal calls his uncle after reaching London.
Return To Peshawar — The film closes with images of the Peshawar refugees.
Torn straight from the headlines, Michael Winterbottom's compelling and prescient 'In This World' follows young Afghan Jamal and his older cousin Enayat as they embark on a hazardous overland trip from their refugee camp at Peshawar, north-west Pakistan. Entering Turkey on foot through a snowy, Kurdish-controlled pass, the pair again take their lives into their hands and face suffocation when they are locked in a freight container on a ship bound for Italy. From there they plan to travel on to Paris, the Sangatte refuge centre and ultimately asylum in London.
