French-Tunisian filmmaker Erige Sehiri’s latest project, Promised Sky, has debuted its official trailer ahead of its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section. The film, which explores migration and social dynamics in Tunisia, is also set to be represented in global sales by Luxbox, with French distribution handled by Jour2Fête.
This marks Sehiri’s return to the Cannes spotlight after her 2022 film Under the Fig Trees was featured in the Directors’ Fortnight and selected as Tunisia’s official entry for the 2023 Academy Awards.
Promised Sky tells the story of Marie, an Ivorian pastor and former journalist who has lived in Tunisia for 10 years. Her home becomes a refuge for Naney, a young mother in search of a better life, and Jolie, a determined student carrying her family’s hopes. The arrival of a little orphan girl challenges their solidarity in a tense social environment, exposing both their vulnerabilities and strengths.
In a statement, Sehiri, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Anna Ciennik and Malika Cécile Louati, discussed the film’s evolving narrative, which reflects the current political climate in Tunisia. “At first, it was not my intention to document what was happening in Tunisia, but over time, the movie began to mirror the political situation of the country. Reality caught up with the story we were writing,” said Sehiri. The film navigates the delicate topic of migration, addressing rising tensions and mass arrests occurring in Tunisia.
“As a Tunisian woman myself, I’m deeply frustrated to see that we can’t welcome migrants with dignity, even though we’re from a country with such a wide diaspora ourselves. We act as if all of us weren’t living on the same continent, as if all of us weren’t Africans,” Sehiri added, highlighting the film’s social and political undercurrent.
Cinematography for Promised Sky is by Frida Marzouk, known for her work on Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013) and Lina Soualem’s 2023 documentary Bye Bye Tiberias. The cast includes Aïssa Maiga, Debora Lobe as Naney, Laetitia Ky, Estelle Kenza Dogbo, Foued Zaazaa, Mohamed Grayaa, and Touré Blamassi.
Produced by Didar Domehri for Maneki Films and Sehiri for Henia Production, Promised Sky was co-produced by Canal+, with additional support from Mad Solutions, Pathé Touch Afrique, TV5 Monde, and various film institutes and funds.
Promised Sky will have its world premiere at Cannes, with Luxbox handling international sales and Jour2Fête releasing the film in France.
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