Credited cast: | |||
Aja Naomi King | ... | Ifrah Ahmed | |
Barkhad Abdi | ... | Hassan | |
Martha Canga Antonio | ... | Amala | |
Luke Spencer Roberts | ... | NGO Rep | |
Orla Brady | ... | Emer Costello | |
![]() |
Maryam Mursal | ... | Grandmother |
Stanley Townsend | ... | Joe Costello | |
Pauline McLynn | ... | Social Worker | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
![]() |
Hamse Abdi | ... | Flight Attendant |
![]() |
Hussein Abdi | ... | Uncle |
![]() |
Mahamed Warsame Abdirabi | ... | Militia Man 2 |
![]() |
Ifrah Ahmed | ... | Fashion Show Model 3 |
![]() |
Mohamed Abdillahi Bahdon | ... | Amin I |
![]() |
Samira Benali | ... | Check-in Attendant |
![]() |
Ayantu Boulanger | ... | Asha |
Based on the testimony of Ifrah Ahmed, who - having made the extraordinary journey to escape war-torn Somalia - emerged as one of the world's foremost international activists against Gender Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation. Written by Production
I saw this film last night at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Although it lacks the polish of a Hollywood film, it was compelling, dramatic and beautifully shot. I had thought I knew all about FGM, but I learned some things from the film. I hadn't known, for example, about economic aspects of FGM.
The film uses the activist's testimony from her speeches and writings as a subtle background narration in a dramatization of her life. It follows her as she flees war-torn Somalia and escapes to Ireland, where she is granted asylum as a refugee. Later she returns to Somalia, and this is the most dramatic aspect of the film.
Hundreds of millions of women have had FGM or are at risk. I hope this film is released nationally so that more people will gain an understanding of the issue.