Promised Sky
An Ivorian pastor and former journalist, Marie, opens her home in Tunisia to three generations of migrant women: Naney, Jolie, and Kenza. A mother desperate to obtain residency status in Tunisia, Naney seeks a better life for herself and her daughter. Jolie, in Tunisia on a student visa, feels burdened by her family’s expectations for her future. Kenza, an orphaned child and the only survivor of a shipwreck carrying refugees to Tunisia, is lost and in need of a mother. Marie struggles with her role as a spiritual leader while assuming the role of Kenza’s caregiver and supporting Naney and Jolie. As the four women grow closer in this makeshift family, they must grapple with poverty, conflict, and alienation.
Erige Sehiri’s Promised Sky is a “bittersweet celebration of endurance and sacrifice” (Screen Daily), demonstrating the importance of resilience, friendship and human connection in the face of global tensions surrounding migration and refugee crises worldwide.
Cast
- Aïssa Maiga
- Debora Lobe Naney
- Laetitia Ky
- Estelle Kenza Dogbo
- Foued Zaazaa
- Mohamed Grayaa
- Touré Blamassi
- "[A] bittersweet celebration of endurance and sacrifice with notable newcomer Debora Lobe Naney giving a winning performance as a vibrant spirit, determined to survive everything that life throws at her."
- "The leads all make their characters vivid and real, and Sehiri directs with a refreshing absence of the melodramatics that a simple summary—three women and their orphan girl—would suggest."
- "The film... shines through Naney’s aching performance...."
- "Erige Sehiri wins viewers over with an incredibly human film. Wonderfully paced and endowed with an incredibly fluid sense of movement and varied décor...."
- "Profoundly human and deeply caring."
- "[A] meaningful story full of humanity and perseverance."
Awards & Recognition
Etoile d'or for Best Film
Marrakesh Film Festival
Best Actress
Marrakesh Film Festival
Un Certain Regard
Cannes Film Festival
Shanghai Int'l. Film Festival
Melbourne Film Festival
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