The Village Next to Paradise

The first Somali film to show at Cannes! An atmospherically dense and moving father-son story set against the backdrop of civil war and post-colonial heritage.

No, this village is not a paradise. The civil war is just as present here as the post-colonial logic of globalization. Nevertheless, Mamargade somehow manages to make ends meet as a traditional undertaker and looks after the little Cigaal, whom he is raising alone. When the school closes, Cigaal’s teacher advises him to send the clever boy to boarding school. There is no money for this, so Mamargade has to think of something. Either way, his sister, who has just moved in with them after her divorce, has plans of her own.

A contemporary and surprising story from Africa’s far east, told in impressively composed images.

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