05/23/24
The Village Next to Paradise
A film by Mo Harawe, Feature Film, 133 min, Color
AU/GER/FR/SO
Production: Freibeuter Film (AU), NiKo Film (DE), Kazak Productions (FR), Maanmal ACC (SO)
Funded by: ÖFI+, ORF Film/Television Agreement, Austrian Film Institute, Film Funds Vienna, Cinémas du Monde – Centre National du Cinéma et de L’image Animée – Institut Français, Région Ile de France, World Cinema Fund, ZDF – Das Kleine Fernsehspiel in collaboration with ARTE, ORF Film/Television Agreement
SYNOPSIS
In a windy Somali village, a newly assembled family must navigate between their different aspirations and the complex world surrounding them. Love, trust and resilience will power them through their life paths.
CREW
Writer & Director | Mo Harawe |
Cinematography | Mostafa El Kashef |
Editing | Joana Scrinzi |
Casting | Mohamed Mohamud Jama |
Set Design | Nuur Abdulkadir |
Costume | Sarah Ismail |
Make up | Fatuma Yussuf |
Sound | Willis Abuto, Anne Gibourg, Guadalupe Cassius, Christophe Vingtrinier |
Executive Producers | Somalia Nuh Musse Berjeeb, Abdimalik Yusuf, Ahmed Farah, Osman Hassan Hussein |
Co-Producers | Jean Christophe Reymond, Nicole Gerhards, Mo Harawe |
Producers | Sabine Moser & Oliver Neumann |
Press
"A Promising Debut wonders how we can find meaning in a world of brutality" -Indiewire
"The film, which shot over three months in Somalia, has a striking visual literacy; a particular achievement given that most of the crew are newcomers." - Screendaily
"Mo Harawe imposes his remarkable sense of framing on a touching and laconic tale illustrating the misfortunes and resilience of the Somali people" - Cineuropa
Festivals & Awards
77th Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard, 2024