The film The Goat Life paints a harrowing picture of a migrant worker suffering in Saudi Arabia. Through the story of Najeeb, who enters Saudi Arabia to achieve his dreams his life ends up as a nightmare of exploitation and abuse. The film reflects the real-life struggles faced by many migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. In this weblog, we explore how The Goat Life mirrors the dire reality of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, shedding light on the human rights abuses, exploitation, and dehumanizing situations they experience.
Arrival and Exploitation
In The Goat’s Life, Najeeb’s arrival in Saudi Arabia is marked by confusion and disorientation. He is unable to communicate with the airport staff and is abandoned by his intended sponsor. This preliminary feeling of helplessness is a clear expression of the stories of many migrant workers who face language barriers and lack of a guide upon arrival.
Migrants often come to Saudi Arabia with inflated hopes for higher opportunities, but quickly find themselves isolated. They are often abandoned by their sponsors or employers, putting them at risk of exploitation. This abandonment unifies the peace for the series of abuses Najeeb narrates in the film, paralleling the plight of migrants who find themselves in similar predicaments.
Victims of Fraud and Abuse
Najeeb’s descent into an international of fraud and violence is a poignant portrayal of the exploitation faced by many migrant workers. In the film, he meets various con artists and even experiences a kidnapping, a brutal reality for several people who fall victim to fraudulent middlemen and illegal practices. This echoes the stories of workers who are lured in with false guarantees, after which they are subjected to intense exploitation.
Many migrant workers in Saudi Arabia face comparably difficult situations. They are often deceived by unscrupulous recruiters who promise rewarding work but deliver them into exploitative situations. workers may also encounter situations where their wages are withheld or they are subjected to physical and psychological abuse. Najeeb’s ordeal in the film shows these harsh realities and highlights the vulnerability of migrants in a foreign land.
The Role of the “Fake Sponsor”
The film’s portrayal of the “fake sponsor” as a determinant of intense cruelty underscores a significant problem within the migrant hard labour system. Najeeb enjoys himself with this abusive sponsor who takes him on a nightmarish journey through a desolate area, symbolizing the dynamics of power and control exerted by multiple employers over his people.
Many migrants in Saudi Arabia face similar abuses from their sponsors or employers. These sponsors often wield disproportionate power and control every aspect of employees’ lives. The violence and manipulation that Najeeb endures reflect the wider problems of patronage abuse, where workers are trapped in abusive relationships with their employers, who expend their utmost energy to maintain control.
Dehumanization and Loss of Identity
One of the most disturbing factors in The Goat’s Life is Najeeb’s transformation directly into a “goat” determinant who loses the ability to speak and adapt to an existence of severe deprivation. This method of dehumanization highlights the amount of abuse and neglect they suffer.
The loss of identity and dignity experienced using Najeeb is a metaphor for the wider dehumanization faced by migrant workers. Many workers are deprived of their rights and subjected to situations that reduce them to mere commodities. The film’s image of Najeeb eating like a goat and losing his speaking ability reflects how some employers view employees as less than human and exploit them regardless of their simple wishes and rights.
The Harsh Reality of Abuse
The brutal conditions that Najeeb endures – from physical abuse to extreme deprivation – reflect the harsh reality faced by several migrant workers. The film’s portrayal of a “hellish desolate tract” is a stark metaphor for the isolation and struggle experienced by people trapped in harsh conditions.
In Saudi Arabia, reports of migrant people living in dire situations with little or no access to proper food, water, or medical care are not uncommon. The abuse Najeeb is suffering is a grim reminder of the urgent need for reforms to defend migrant workers and ensure they are treated with dignity and recognition.
Conclusion
The Goat Life offers an effective, but disturbing portrayal of the experiences of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Through Najeeb’s story, the film brings to light the exploitation, abuse, and dehumanization that many people face. It serves as a poignant reminder of the need for systemic change to protect the rights and dignity of migrant people to ensure they are no longer subjected to such dire conditions. By reflecting on Najeeb’s adventure, we gain insight into the wider issues affecting migrant workers and the urgent need for action to tackle these injustices.
