The 2021 animated film, “Lamya’s Poem” revolves around a young girl named Lamya, living in war-stricken Syria. Despite the difficult circumstances, Lamya finds solace in reading poetry, which helps her cope with the violence and destruction that surrounds her. The film shows how Lamya comes across Rumi’s poems and teachings that give hope in the darkest times. Throughout the film, their connection exists through a fantasy world that is a metaphorical representation of Lamya and Rumi’s shared imagination. This part of their fantasy represents their inner journey and exploration of Rumi’s teachings. It’s also a surreal, dream-like place where Lamya searches for contentment and peace and tries to recover from past traumatic experiences. On the other hand, the metaphorical themes also express Lamya’s feelings as a refugee. Overall, “Lamya’s Poem” is a poignant film that highlights the plight of refugees and the importance of empathy and understanding in a world that is often very cruel.
Spoilers Ahead
Lamya And Rumi’s Connection
Lamya is passionate about poetry and words, and she aspires to become a teacher to share her knowledge with others. Throughout the film, Lamya is constantly motivated by her teacher Mr. Hamadani to pursue her dreams. Mr. Hamadani gifts her a book from his personal library, consisting of the poetry of Jalal ad-Din Rumi. Lamya quotes and references Rumi’s poetry, finding inspiration in his words. Rumi’s poetry speaks to the universal themes of love, loss, and longing, and resonates deeply with Lamya’s painful experiences. As the movie continues, Mr Hamadani explains the influence of the Mongol Empire on Rumi’s life and work. Even though it is complex, their invasion caused tremendous upheaval and suffering. The legacy of the Mongol invasion and its impact on Rumi can be seen as a means for shaping his poems. It also provided a new perspective to Rumi, that allowed for the exchange of ideas and traditions.
The scenes featuring Rumi and Lamya highlight the power of art to transcend material existence and achieve spirituality. Through her encounter with Rumi in the imaginative world, Lamya gains a deeper understanding of self-expression, as they deal with different shadowy creatures that represent their inner struggles and uncertainty.
Why Did Rumi’s Father Insist That His Son Write Poetry? What Are The Parallels With Lamya’s Life?
Whenever Lamya is intimidated by the red-eyed monster in her dream, it represents the fear and hatred that is tearing her apart. Like Lamya, Rumi has also experienced the effects of violence and conflict, and it has overwhelmed him. The monster symbolizes the forces of intolerance while Lamya and Rumi’s fear is a natural response to the danger that these forces represent. Throughout the film, Rumi becomes a source of power that helps Lamya to engage with the monster on a human level. Similarly, Rumi’s father became a mentor for his son, helping him fight his inner demons without judgement or criticism. His father was deeply committed to spiritual practices and teachings, and he instilled these values in his son from an early age. He chose empathy over indifference and understanding over ignorance. By rejecting the cycle of violence and revenge, Rumi’s father demonstrates the power of compassion and forgiveness to achieve enlightenment. Although Rumi was gifted with abilities to write beautiful poems, he struggled to find a sense of purpose and meaning in his life.
When Rumi expressed a desire to seek revenge against those who had wronged him, his father insisted that he channelize his emotions and experiences into his writing. Rumi was able to find a more constructive and meaningful way to express his feelings and connect with others. Moreover, ‘Lamya’s Poem’ explains that love and hate are two powerful emotions that influenced Rumi and Lamya. Eventually, they realized that hate could lead to division and destruction, but love has the power to bring people together, heal wounds and build bridges of understanding. When Rumi and Lamya chose love to face their fears, they created a ripple effect that extends beyond their reach, inspiring others to do the same.
What Do The Fireflies Represent? How Is It Connected To Lamya’s Experiences?
Lamya lives a peaceful life with her mother, but her father’s absence is too painful for both of them. It is implied that Lamya’s father died during a peaceful demonstration in Syria and that his loss profoundly affected Lamya and her mother. Out of respect for his memory, Lamya’s mother still wears his wedding ring in a chain around her neck. Also, whenever Lamya is feeling lost and alone, she is comforted by the sight of fireflies in her dreams. The fireflies remind her of the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and the possibility of joy and connection even in the midst of hardship. Just as the fireflies gather together to create a beautiful display of light, Lamya finds connection and support through her relationship with her mother, and the other refugees she meets but things change when Lamya encounters a bombing attack.
One fine day, Lamya goes out with her friends, but her bag is stolen by a boy named Bassam. Before she can recover it, a plane drops bombs on the city, injuring Lamya. Fortunately, the bombs don’t hurt her much, but Lamya and her mother are forced to leave Aleppo as the constant bombing shakes Lamya to the core, leaving her vulnerable and scared.
Meanwhile, Lamya’s mother had to sell her jewellery to seek refuge in a nearby camp, but a catastrophic storm separates Lamya and her mother as the ocean waves push them off the boat. Lamya manages to reach a refugee camp and spends days waiting for her mother, but she never returns. But her friendship with Bassam brings back the happiness she had been missing. He apologises for stealing her bag and takes her to a nearby park with fireflies. Bassam never had the opportunity to go to school, and his lack of education frustrates him. It is pretty clear that many children face problems in accessing education in conflict-affected areas. However, Lamya helps him read Rumi’s poems and they quickly become best friends.
The Red-Eyed Hyenas And The Serpent
Lamya’s happiness doesn’t last long, for Bassam and his family are taken away by the authorities, leaving Lamya behind. She hides in a corner, waiting for an opportunity to escape. Meanwhile, the story constantly switches between 2016 and 1221, showing how both Rumi and Lamya carry hatred in their hearts. The absence of her mother becomes terrible for Lamya, and without Bassam, it becomes very difficult for her to deal with her feelings of pain and suffering. As Lamya slips into her dreams, she encounters the red-eyed hyenas that Lamya and Rumi must face on their journey of self-discovery. They’re quickly overwhelmed by their menacing presence. But with the help of Rumi’s teachings and guidance, Lamya learns to face her fears and confront the hyenas directly. While Lamya faces her challenges in the refugee camp, Rumi learns to deal with his hatred for the Mongol warriors. When Rumi goes on a pilgrimage with his father, he finds a Mongol warrior among them. Rumi tries to hurt him, but his father stops him at the right moment. The hyenas represent Rumi’s hatred for the warriors because they destroyed his home and took away his desire to write poetry.
The hyenas continue to destroy the imaginary kingdom in Lamya’s dreams. But Rumi sets out to protect her and confronts the hyenas himself. Lamya tries to stop him, but Rumi is blinded by revenge and doesn’t listen to her. She plants his flute, which grows into a beautiful tree of poetry. But this doesn’t last long, for the kingdom harbours a dark secret, a serpent that tries to take over Rumi and Lamya’s mind. But Rumi’s father helps him realise that hatred is no solution, because love can conquer everything in this world. Rumi’s hatred led him to resist change and hindered his ability to write poetry. But with his father’s help, Rumi understands his true purpose and continues to write for those who seek help and magic in his words.
‘Lamya’s Poem’ Ending Explained – How Did Lamya Reunite With Her Mother?
Lamya struggles to deal with xenophobia in the refugee camps and things get worse when her mother doesn’t come back. She tries to tear up the book because she believes that love has no place in this world. Meanwhile, her dreams are poisoned by the red-eyed serpent and the old man who takes her captive. As the old man takes control of her, her negative thoughts keep bringing forth monstrous tree roots that try to devour her. Rumi uses his powerful poetry to protect her, and it acts as a talisman against dark energy. In the end, Lamya defeats the negativity around her and uses her time and energy to teach those who need guidance and wisdom. The other children in the refugee camp continue to listen to the poems while Lamya waits patiently for things to get better. When Lamya finishes her poem, her mother has already arrived to get her daughter back.
The ending of “Lamya’s Poem” is open to interpretation, but it can be seen as hopeful and encouraging. At the end of the film, Lamya and her mother are reunited, which sends a strong message of positivity and faith. Despite the challenges and traumas Lamya and her mother have faced, there is a chance that they have found a community that welcomes and supports them. Furthermore, the ending shows that art can be a powerful tool for healing, allowing people to express themselves and connect with others on a deeper level. The connection between Rumi and Lamya is also an encouraging ending to the film, reminding us that there is always hope for a better future. Furthermore, Rumi’s poems serve as a bridge between Lamya’s experiences as a refugee and the outside world. Throughout the film, she manages to connect with Rumi and share her perspective in a way that transcends all barriers. His poetry also serves as a bridge between the past and the present, allowing Lamya to process her experiences and find meaning in her life. Overall, “Lamya’s Poem” emphasizes the importance of empathy and belief to overcome every problem in this world.
