unfortunately, it was paradise*#3

Two fictional narratives that bring to light the struggle for female empowerment in a toxic environment. The female characters fight for personal autonomy becomes a battle for survival in the socioeconomic turmoil of contemporary Morocco and Greece.

On The Edge by Leïla Kilani 

Badia and Imane work in a shrimp-processing factory in Tangier’s poorest neighborhood but at night, they rob men under false pretenses. 

On The Edge provides a raw and authentic glimpse of the attempts of workers to get a better life. After making a documentary about immigrants who risk the crossing from Tangier to Europe, the breathtaking feature debut of Leïla Kilani is also about the bitter-sweet dream of globalization.  

online reservation: https://forms.gle/zJZgnCYSnFT15j2i7

Her Job by Nikos Labôt 

Panagiota lives with her husband Kostas and their two children a seemingly quiet life in a popular neighborhood in Athens. As the recession hits their family hard, Panagiota decides to get a job for the first time in her life taking up the full burden of family responsibilities. She gets hired by a private cleaning company as a cleaning lady in a shopping center. In her new work environment she faces both a ruthless system of exploitation and discovers the solidarity of her colleagues.

online reservation: https://forms.gle/feB47atagnWPSJQ19

Her Job is a well-observed study of a woman’s unlikely liberation. Despite the uncertainty, stress and pressure, the story is enhanced with unexpected outbursts of humor, moments of lightness and hope.

Leïla Kilani (born in 1970, Casablanca, Morocco) lives between Paris and Tangier and started moving into documentaries in 2000 with some noteworthy films (Tanger le rêve des Brûleurs, Nos lieux interdits) before making On the Edge, her first fiction feature. The movie was presented at Cannes Festival (Directors’ Fortnight), Locarno International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam and awarded Best Film at Paris Film Festival.  

Nikos Labôt (born in 1976, Athens, Greece) has worked in feature and short films in Greece and France, as well as at the theater. Following his short film The Dog, his debut feature film Her Job had its world premiere at the Discovery Section of the Toronto International Film Festival before being internationally awarded.

• *Unfortunately, It was Paradise: Selected Poems by Mahmoud Derwish