The Village Next to Paradise

Hope and familial bonds thrive in dangerous conditions in this groundbreaking feature – the first ever Somali film to screen at Cannes.

Tasked with odd jobs ranging from digging graves to smuggling goods, Mamargade resides in a small but picturesque community by the ocean, located in a region racked by political instability and the ever-present threat of foreign drone strikes. His sister Araweelo seeks to open a tailoring shop but is hampered by her status as a divorcee, while his young son Cigaal must confront the recent closure of his school and the prospect of being sent away to a boarding institution in the city. Living in a cramped one-bedroom house, the trio all long for a better life that might be snatched away at any moment – but, together, they might just make it.

Selected for Cannes Un Certain Regard, the affecting debut feature from Mo Harawe (Will My Parents Come to See Me, MIFF 2022) is reminiscent of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters (MIFF 2018) in its representation of a makeshift family brought together by circumstance. Vividly rendered through Harawe’s singular, rich and indelible visual language, The Village Next to Paradise is a gently wondrous portrayal of survival in difficult conditions.

“The humble ambition of the story’s characters reflects the filmmaker’s steady hand and patient vision … A film that quietly seeps into the audience’s consciousness and lingers.” – Variety