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.
Life Overtakes Me (2019) is a documentary film directed by Kristine Samuelson, released on January 26, 2019 with a runtime of 39m. It stars Henry Ascher, Nadja Hatem, Mikael Billing and Karl Sallin. Viewers rate it 6.5 out of 10 across 90 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Life Overtakes Me before you stream it.
Henry Ascher
as Himself - Pediatrician and Professor, University of Gothenburg (as Henry Ascher MD)
Nadja Hatem
as Herself - Immigration Attorney
Mikael Billing
as Himself - Psychologist and Psychotherapist, BUP Asylum Psychiatric Unit
Karl Sallin
as Himself - Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala University (as Karl Sallin MD)
Elizabeth Hultcrantz
as Herself - Professor Emerita, Linköping University (as Elizabeth Hultcrantz MD PhD)
Gellert Tamas
as Himself - Author and Journalist
Anne-Liis von Knorring
as Herself - Child Psychologist, Professor Emerita, Uppsala University (as Anne-Liis von Knorring MD)
Directed by Kristine Samuelson, produced by John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson.
Average viewer score of 6.5/10 from 90 ratings.
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 deepen credibility. It…
Reviewed on September 30, 2025
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Life Overtakes Me (2019) is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
The main cast of Life Overtakes Me (2019) includes Henry Ascher, Nadja Hatem, Mikael Billing, Karl Sallin and Elizabeth Hultcrantz. The film was directed by Kristine Samuelson. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Life Overtakes Me was released on January 26, 2019 and runs for 39m.
Life Overtakes Me (2019) holds an average rating of 6.5 out of 10 from 90 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Life Overtakes Me trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
