Heart of Fire (2008)
"Feuerherz" (original title)

The true story of a young female soldier who comes of age during the Eritrean civil war.

Director:

Luigi Falorni

Writers:

Luigi Falorni (screenplay), Gabriele Kister (screenplay),

Stars:

Letekidan Micael, Solomie Micael, Seble Tilahun

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Letekidan Micael	...	Awet
Solomie Micael	...	Freweyini
Seble Tilahun	...	Ma'aza
Daniel Seyoum	...	Mike'ele
Mekdes Wegene	...	Amrit
Samuel Semere	...	Haile
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Guled Abdulawi	...	Village boy
Daniel Abraham
Samion Bermane
Mariuccia Cordi	...	Mother superior
Jateni Etigwa	...	Pionneer 3
Tesfaye Gebreziasner
Wailay Gebreziasner
Yadesse Kabede
Mesfin Lesese	...	Tigros

Storyline

Eritrea during the independence war against Ethiopia. Awet's mother left her when she was only a little girl and now she is growing up - in the midst of the upheaval - in an orphanage in Asmara. Her sense of justice is in evidence at an early age; as a young girl she is always trying to assert herself and protest against injustice. Several years later, her father - whom she believed lost - takes her away to live with his new family. But Awet is not welcome; her father torments her and finally gives her and her sister to one of Eritrea's liberation armies. The two girls are brought to a camp where they are to be trained as soldiers. There Awet experiences friendship, solidarity, and enthusiasm for the ideals of freedom. But her dream is shattered when she realizes that her heroes are committed to a brutal brothers' war against another liberation army. Confronted with death and fanaticism, Awet has to resort to her 'heart of fire', her courage and her conscience, to find a way out of ...

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Plot Keywords:

civil war | female soldier | child soldier | africa | based on autobiography | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Details

Country:

Germany Italy Austria France

Language:

Tigrigna

Release Date:

29 January 2009 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Heart of Fire

Filming Locations:

Kenya

Company Credits

Production Co:

TV-60 Filmproduktion, Burkert Bareiss Development, Arte

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

"Feuerherz" or "Heart of Fire"

I LOVED this movie. Letekidan Micael, the child actress in the film was incredible. She gave one of the best performances I have ever seen --adult or child. The way she speaks with her eyes--loving, hating, crying, being an adult or being a child-- it all comes through her eyes. She is so talented that I hope to see again in another film some time soon. I had never heard of Senait Mehari, the singer who's life this is (loosely) based on but I will certainly look her up now. Hat's off to the producers and director also-a fine job. It is also a very interesting story of and take on Christianity. I can't see why anyone would boo this film, unless they just didn't have a heart...