Along a deserted beach in the wind and waves, father and son, Mamargade and Seagal, enjoy a little happiness in nature
Scenario
A newly formed family faces challenges as they pursue individual goals and face the challenges of modern life, relying on love, trust, and resilience to guide them. Such cherished moments are rare and far from the numerous jobs, drone strikes that bring death from above, checkpoints and work payments that take months, if ever, to materialize. In their simple and tiny house made of cinder blocks and corrugated steel, the couple lives with their sister Mamargada Oravilo.
The risks are huge
Seagal dreams of the world. Oravilo dreams of sewing and selling his own clothes. As an unmarried woman, she cannot get a loan, so Oravilo hatches a plan to circumvent the regulation.
“A village near paradise” was first released in Cannes
“All my life I’ve been trying to make everything better,” says Mamorgade, “but I keep making mistakes.” When misfortune overshadows almost every aspect of everyday life, it is impossible to avoid “mistakes”. However, the modest and hardworking trio never stops asking and hoping for luck, their own business, time at the beach, school funding and better days. “This is the first film shot on location in Somalia,” said director Mo Harawe, who attended the North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The investment in Somalia paid off in terms of the film’s authenticity
Harave collaborated with the Paradise community to make the film and hired non-professional actors. The ambient sound of music on the radio, road traffic, waves and wind also contributed to the realism. “The wind is a character,” Harave said, “that’s why human characters are never alone.” Culture is also a character, and I liked the immersion in Somali songs, stories and landscape.
