Totem Films Boards Sales On Somali Cannes Un Certain Regard Title ‘The Village Next To Paradise’
Totem Films Boards Sales On Somali Cannes Un Certain Regard Title ‘The Village Next To Paradise’
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Muhamed Harawe (Mo. Harawe) was born in Mogadishu.
He studied at an art school in Somalia, but his filmmaking journey began in Austria. He’s a screenwriter and has written several scripts for feature films like “To Mogadishu”.
The Village Next to Paradise is his first feature film and was selected in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival 2024.
The film captures a portrait of family life in a Somalian desert village. It tells the story of a single father, his sister, and his son Cigaal, as they navigate the complexities of life. Harawe says, "The film serves as a metaphor for a country that holds the potential for paradise, were it not for the circumstances that make such a reality impossible."
His other works include:
1. Life on the Horn
2. Will My Parents Come to See Me
3. The story of the polar bear that wanted to go to Africa
