The Other Side of the River

Germany, Finland 2021
In Arabian, Kurdish and German, with FINNISH and SWEDISH subtitles
98 min
Suitable for audiences aged 12 and above
Director: Antonia Kilian
Screenplay: Antonia Kilian, Guevara Namer, Arash Asadi
Cast: Hala Mustafa, Sosan Mustafa
Production: Frank Müller, Antonia Kilian, Guevara Namer, Merja Ritola / Doppelplusultra Filmproduktion, Pink Shadow Films, Greenlit Productions
Print Source: StoryHill

In order to avoid a forced marriage, 19-year-old Hala finds shelter across the Euphrates (North-East Syria), at a Military Academy for women. While learning how to fight, she gets inspired by the promise of freeing every woman. After the Kurdish military takes over her city from ISIS, Hala returns as a police force entitled to protect other women in danger. Hala finds herself ready to fulfill her greatest dream: to free her younger sisters from her father’s hand.

Τhe threat of a forced marriage and the brutal stories of female oppression lead more and more women to the other side of the river. They are trained in a strict military-style, taught that they have to protect themselves with weapons against the patriarchic society. But is there freedom to be found in a military system in the middle of war?

Production notes

Please note! The film has just Finnish and Swedish subtitles, not English as announced before.

Trailer

Screenings