The Village Next to Paradise
| The Village Next to Paradise | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mo Harawe |
| Story by | Mo Harawe |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Mostafa El Kashef |
Production companies |
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Release date | |
Running time | 132 minutes |
| Countries |
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The Village Next to Paradise is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Mo Harawe in his feature-length debut.[2] Starring Ahmed Ali Farah, Ahmed Mohamud Saleban, and Anab Ahmed Ibrahim as a family in turmoil, The Village Next to Paradise was the first Somali film to be featured in the Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival.[1][3][4]
Premise
[edit]Mamargrade (Farah) struggles to raise his son Cigaal (Saleban) in their rural Somali village amidst conflict, natural disasters, and the constant presence of drones from the United States.[3] Their family dynamic is further altered by the arrival of Marmargrade's sister Araweelo (Ibrahim), who is seeking a fresh start after her divorce.[5]
Cast
[edit]- Ahmed Ali Farah as Mamamrgrade
- Anab Ahmed Ibrahim as Araweelo
- Ahmed Mohamud Saleban as Cigaal
Production
[edit]The film was shot in Somalia with a principal cast of first-time actors.[4]
Release
[edit]The Village Next to Paradise premiered on May 21, 2024, in the Un Certain Regard portion of the Cannes Film Festival, where it was eligible for the Camera d'Or award.[1] It has also been selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 under the World Cinema section.[6]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 6 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10.[7]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Ceremony date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 24 May 2024 | Un Certain Regard | The Village Next to Paradise | Nominated | [2] |
| 25 May 2024 | Camera d'Or | Pending | [2] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Baughan, Nikki. "'The Village Next To Paradise': Cannes Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Goodfellow, Melanie. "Totem Films Boards Sales On Somali Cannes Un Certain Regard Title 'The Village Next To Paradise'". Deadline. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b Vourlias, Christopher. "Somali Filmmaker Mo Harawe Makes History in Cannes With Intimate Family Drama 'The Village Next to Paradise'". Variety. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b Abraham, Hannah. "Somali Director Mo Harawe Talks History-Making Cannes Title 'The Village Next To Paradise': "For 70% Of The Crew, It Was First Time On A Film Set"". Deadline. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Mo Harawe with "Village Next to Paradise" in Cannes". Kunsthochschule Kassel. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Deb, Deepshikha (2024-09-30). "MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Unveils 2024 Official Lineup". High On Films. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ "The Village Next to Paradise". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
