The Village Next to Paradise

About This Film

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Festival Year: 2025
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Film Type: Feature
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Animated: No
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Filmed In: Austria, France, Germany, Somalia
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Language: Somali
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English Subtitles: Yes
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Production Year: 2024
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Captions: None

Film Overview

Villager Marmargade and his sister Araweelo are just trying to make ends meet and send his son off to boarding school. But in a world defined by chaos, unease, and civil unrest, sometimes sacrifice is the only answer. Mo Harawe’s feature debut is the first Somali film to play the Cannes Film Festival.

Film Contact: Totem Films
The Village Next to Paradise Poster

Cast & Crew

Directed By

Mo Harawe Headshot
Mo Harawe

Produced By

Sabine Moser, Oliver Neumann

Screenwriting

Mo Harawe

Cinematographers

Mostafa El Kashef

Editors

Joana Scrinzi

Principal Cast

Ahmed Ali Farah, Anab Ahmed Ibrahim, Ahmed Mohamud Saleban