MSPIFF @ the Capri: The Village Next To Paradise
MSP Film Society

In a windy Somali village, a newly assembled family must navigate between their different aspirations and the complex world surrounding them. Mamargade is a jack-of-all-trades in Paradise, a town in the war-torn Somali countryside. With his son, Cigaal, and sister, Araweelo, he’s trying to make ends meet in a country rife with violence and uncertainty. Mo Harawe’s debut feature was the first Somali film to be an official selection at Cannes.

Cigaal is a gifted child, clearly in need of additional schooling to help him realize his potential. Mamargade toils selflessly, taking on virtually any job–including gravedigger, a necessary gig in a land targeted by U.S. drone strikes–to see that his son’s education continues. Araweelo has her own troubles–she’s trying to start a clothing shop, but no local bank will loan money to a divorced woman, and her infertility means that her husband has his sights set elsewhere. Love, trust and resilience will power them through their life paths.