When Mariam is deported from Spain back to Western Sahara after ten years away, she finds her family less-than-welcoming–her mother and sister are embittered that she abandoned them, and her brother, a drug dealer and the only one making a living, refuses to help. Her only solace is her old friend Sidahmed and her brother’s girlfriend, both of whom feel like outsiders, too. Set and largely filmed in Western Sahara, a country occupied by Morocco since the 1970s, the film depicts the impacts of colonialism on community and family relationships. Filmmaker Eimi Imanishi’s profound debut feature is anchored by a brilliant performance by Nadhira Mohamed as Mariam.

Curated & presented in partnership with Mizna, SWANA Stories at MSPIFF presents bold and striking new films from North Africa, Southwest Asia, and the diaspora.