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In their simple and tiny house made of cinder blocks and corrugated steel, the couple lives with Mamargade’s sister, Araweela
Story
The newly formed family is up to the challenge of achieving individual goals and navigating the complexities of modern life, relying on love, trust and resilience to guide them. Along a deserted beach in the wind and waves, father and son, Mamargade and Cigaal, enjoy a little happiness in nature. Rare are such precious moments, multiple jobs, drone strikes that bring death from above, checkpoints and labor payoffs that take months to materialize, if at all.
Cigaal dreams of light
Araweelo dreams of making and selling his own clothes. As an unmarried woman, she can’t get a loan, so Araweelo comes up with a plan to get around the regulations. The risk is huge.
The Village Next to Paradise landed in Cannes for the first time
“All my life I try to improve things,” says Mamargade, “but I keep making mistakes.” When misfortune overshadows almost every aspect of daily life, “mistakes” are impossible to avoid. Despite this, the modest and hard-working trio does not stop trying and hoping for happiness, their own business, time at the beach, school funds and better days. “This is the first film shot on location in Somalia,” said director Mo Harawe, who attended the North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The investment in Somalia paid off in terms of the film’s authenticity
Harawe recruited the community of Paradise and cast non-professional actors to make the film. The ambient sounds of music on the radio, traffic, waves and wind also contributed to the realism of the film. “The wind is a character,” said Harawe, “so human characters are never alone.” Culture is also character and I enjoyed being immersed in Somali songs, stories and scenery.
