Along a deserted beach in the wind and waves, a father and son, Mamargade and Cigaal, enjoy a bit of nature bliss
Chronology
A newly formed family faces challenges as they pursue individual goals and navigate the complexities of modern life, relying on love, trust and resilience to guide them. Such cherished moments are few and far between the many jobs, drone strikes that bring death from above, checkpoints and work payments that take months to materialize, if ever.
Cigaal dreams of the light
In their simple and tiny house of scrap metal and corrugated steel, the pair lives with Mamargade’s sister, Araweelo. Araweelo dreams of making and selling her own clothing.
The stakes are high
As an unmarried woman, she cannot get a loan, so Araweelo hatches a plan to get around the regulations. “I’ve been trying to make things better my whole life,” says Mamargade, “but I keep making mistakes.” When misfortune overshadows virtually every aspect of daily life, it’s impossible to avoid “mistakes.” Still, the humble, hard-working trio never stops trying and hoping for luck, their own business, time at the beach, funding for school, and better days.
The investment in Somalia paid off in terms of the film’s authenticity
“It’s the first film shot on location in Somalia,” said director Mo Harawe, who attended the North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Harawe engaged with the Paradise community to make the film and hired non-professional actors.
The ambient sound of radio music, traffic, waves, and wind also contributed to its realistic nature
“The wind is a character,” said Harawe, “so the human characters are never alone.” Culture is also a character and I enjoyed the immersion in Somali songs, stories and landscape.