Life Overtakes Me

2019 39 min ★ 6.5 Documentary

Hundreds of refugee children in Sweden, who have fled with their families from extreme trauma, have become afflicted with 'uppgivenhetssyndrom,' or Resignation Syndrome. Facing deportation, they withdraw from the world into a coma-like state, as if frozen, for months, or even years.

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Cast

Henry Ascher

Himself - Pediatrician and Professor, University of Gothenburg (as Henry Ascher MD)

Nadja Hatem

Herself - Immigration Attorney

Mikael Billing

Himself - Psychologist and Psychotherapist, BUP Asylum Psychiatric Unit

Karl Sallin

Himself - Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala University (as Karl Sallin MD)

Elizabeth Hultcrantz

Herself - Professor Emerita, Linköping University (as Elizabeth Hultcrantz MD PhD)

Gellert Tamas

Himself - Author and Journalist

Anne-Liis von Knorring

Herself - Child Psychologist, Professor Emerita, Uppsala University (as Anne-Liis von Knorring MD)

Details

Director

Kristine Samuelson

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Production

Camera Stylo Films

Reviews

A

Alunauwie

September 30, 2025

★ 8/10

This documentary sheds light on the rarely known Resignation Syndrome affecting refugee children in Sweden, a mental condition lacking official recognition from WHO. It presents emotional and psychological impacts on families, while raising questions about skepticism toward the illness's authenticity. Although informative, the film could benefit from expert interviews or scientific studies to deep...