A FILM BY
Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (A SCREAMING MAN, GRIGRIS)
STARRING
Achouackh Abakar Souleyman & Rihane Khalil Alio
**WINNER – Top Five Foreign Language Films – NBR Awards 2021**
**OFFICIAL SELECTION – Cannes Film Festival 2021**
**OFFICIAL SELECTION – Toronto International Film Festival 2021**
**OFFICIAL SELECTION – BFI London Film Festival 2021
**OFFICIAL SELECTION – AFI Fest 2021**
SYNOPSIS – On the outskirts of N’djamena, the capital of Chad, fiercely determined single mother Amina (Achouackh Abakar Souleyman) works tirelessly to provide for herself and Maria, her 15-year-old daughter (Rihane Khalil Alio). Suddenly, Amina’s fragile existence collapses: she learns Maria is pregnant, and has been kicked out of her Islamic girls’ school. Maria does not want this pregnancy, but abortion in Chad is condemned both by religion and law. Abandoned by her own family years before for her pregnancy with Maria, Amina is determined to offer a different fate for her child. As mother and daughter fight to procure a simple procedure made inaccessible by their patriarchal government, they must navigate a treacherous network of male doctors, relatives, and neighbors, forging a connection stronger than any they’ve ever known before.
About Mahamat-Saleh Haroun – Born in Chad, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun first won critical acclaim for his short films before directing his first feature, Bye-bye Africa (Best First Film, Venice Film Festival 1999). He then went on to direct Abouna Our Father (Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes 2002), Daratt, Dry Season (Special Jury Award, Venice Film Festival 2006), A Screaming Man (Jury Prize, Cannes Film Festival 2010), Grigris (Vulcain Prize for Best Cinematography, Official Competition, Cannes Film Festival 2013). Hissein Habré, A Chadian Tragedy, his first documentary film, was selected at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Official Selection – Special screening. A Season in France, his first feature film shot in France, starring Eriq Ebouaney and Sandrine Bonnaire was selected at the Toronto International Film Festival 2017 – Special Presentation.
