Heart of Fire

Awet, a well-mannered and bright 10-year-old girl growing up in an orphanage run by nuns, receives a visit from her sister Freweyni. She urges Awet to go back home to see their poor and drunken dad. Upon arrival, the father, an ex-freedom fighter, gives both girls to the Eritrean Liberation Front, and their entire existence is turned upside down. Following a dispute, Awet is sent away to one of the rival liberation army outposts. The orphan-turned-guerilla-warrior is set to lead herself through a war plagued by atrocities and fanaticism. Her main question: Why do they want to kill us?

Even though facing rough casting circumstances, where the Eritrean government threatened everyone involved, director Luigi Falorni has managed to put together an expressive film, where the overall impression is both fictional and documentary. Inspired by the memoirs of Senait G. Mehari, the global concern of child soldiers receives the big screen focus it deserves.

Nordic Premiere

Orig. title: Feuerherz
Cast: Letekidan Micael, Solomie Micael, Seble Tilahun, Daniel Seyoum, Mekdes Wegene, Samuel Semere
Producer: Andreas Bareiss, Sven Burgemeister, Gloria Burkert, Berndt Burgemeister
Screenplay: Luigi Falorni,Luigi Falorni, Gabriele Kister, Senait Mehari
Cinematography: Judith Kaufmann
Music: Andrea Guerra