Welcome by David Alfaro
When salvation is damnation
That is the reality of Zamira and her little daughter Leila when they arrive at a refugee camp in Europe, escaping the theft of Arab babies to be sold to wealthy families who cannot conceive them.Far from being a place of humanitarian aid, overcrowded with tents, without food, clothing, cleanliness and marked by crime in the face of the desperation of those who live there, the place is hell: the little girl disappears without a trace.
In desperation, Zamira can’t get anyone to pay attention to her, everyone in their own misfortune, and even less so the security forces who guard them tepidly take charge. No one listens to her, no one helps her. She is still alone as she was when she arrived. Even more alone than before.
But a glimmer of hope appears when Helena, a Spanish journalist, arrives to interview the refugees and Zamira tells her heartbreaking story. Echoing the mother’s pain, Helena summons an investigator to help them in their search. However, the picture becomes complicated: there is no trace of Leila, because there is no evidence of a kidnapping, nor of her previous existence.
Zamira’s version is questioned by the authorities who, tired of having to give answers, conclude and spread the word that this woman is probably unbalanced and has invented the existence of a fictitious daughter.
And although Helena trusts her protégée, the media and the security forces decide to accuse her of being a liar, just like Leila’s mother: the child is an in- vention of both of them. To get money for Zamira, and the lost custody of her daughter for Helena, both of them, stirring up public opinion.
Both are women, both fight to be mothers, both are treated as crazy. When it comes to pain, prejudice and injustice, who has the truth?

