The Village Next To Paradise

Single father Mamargade, his sister Araweelo, and young son Cigaal navigate hardship and hope, bound by quiet resilience as each pursues a different vision of paradise in a weathered Somali village.

Director:
Mo Harawe

Genre:
Drama

Year:
2024

Duration:
132 minutes

Rating:
PG

Country:
Austria, Germany, France, Somalia

Language:
Arabic

Subtitling:
English, Arabic

Screenplay: Mo Harawe

Cast: Ahmed Ali Farah, Anab Ahmed Ibrahim, Ahmed Mohamud Saleban

Cinematography: Mostafa El Kashef

Editing: Joana Scrinzi

Production: Sabine Moser & Oliver Neumann

Awards: Jury Prize, Marrakech International Film Festival, Marrakech, Morocco, 2024

Début Status: Jordanian Première

Film Eligibility: Mo Harawe is a first-time screenwriter and director | Anab Ahmed Ibrahim is a first-time lead actress | Ahmed Mohamud Saleban is a first-time lead actor | Ahmed Ali Farah is a first-time lead actor

Synopsis

In a remote Somali village shaped by hardship and change, a small family charts its way through shifting dreams and unspoken conflicts. As Mamargade, his son Cigaal, and his sister Araweelo pursues their individual dreams amidst societal challenges and personal hardships, their bond is tested. Through love, trust, and quiet strength, they navigate the complexities and their intertwined paths.

Director’s biography

Mo Harawe is a Somali/Austrian writer and director born in Mogadishu. He has been studying Visual Communication and Film at Kunsthochschule Kassel. "The Village Next to Paradise" is his debut feature film, following his acclaimed short films "Life on the Horn" (2022) that earned a Special Mention at Locarno International Film Festival. While "Will My Parents Come to See Me" (2022) was nominated for the European Film Award, won the Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand as well as German LOLA and Austrian Film Award for Best Short Film in 2023.