The Village Next To Paradise

In his debut film The Village Next to Paradise, the first Somali film ever featured at the Cannes Film Festival, Mo Harawe delves into the struggles of a father and son living in a remote village by the Indian Ocean. Amidst idyllic surroundings, they navigate the constant threat of drone attacks, reflecting the harsh realities of their world. Caught between dream and drone. This is how you could describe the life of single father Mamargade and his clever son Cigaal. They live in a remote village near the Indian Ocean, complete with white sandy beaches under an idyllic blue sky. Yet there is constant doom in the air of their small Somali village: because of the war on terror, a drone attack could take place at any time. For Marmargade, who is a grave-digger as well as a handyman, these bombings - and the many innocent victims they cause - mean extra income. When these stops, he takes a job that puts his relationship with his family at risk. This extraordinary portrait by Somali-Austrian director Mo Harawe was the first Somali film ever to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Between paradise and the village next door lies a long road.