Compassion begins at home, and 'I Was a Strange’ seems to have missed that part of the journey.

It’s a suspenseful handwringer that features one of the most nerve-wracking boat-raft passages I’ve ever seen on film. Andersen has also come up with a perfect ending, one that illustrates so much by saying so little.

This is an ambitious and confident first feature, yet it is hampered by a screenplay that is intent on emphasising the most obvious points about the issue rather than offering a new perspective.

I Was a Stranger is the undeniably impressive — and, at times, heartbreaking — feature debut of writer-director Brandt Andersen, who adapted it from his award-winning short film Refugee.