In his first documentary, well-known and celebrated Nigerian director Ike Nnaebue embarks on a personal journey. As a young man, he took the route from Nigeria via Benin, Mali and Mauritania to Morocco, hoping to get to Europe from there. But as the crossing seemed too risky at the time, Nnaebue turned back and began studying film in Nigeria. Now, 21 years later, he revisits the stages of his journey as a documentarian, and tries to find out what motivates young people today to expose themselves to all kinds of ordeals and dangers on their way to an uncertain future. In carefully conducted interviews, he also explores the experiences of young women in particular on the long journey and asks them about the dreams and hardships that drive them on. With great respect for his protagonists and a keen sense of the role his camera plays, he succeeds in capturing intimate images and situations without ever being voyeuristic. Rounded off by a densely poetic commentary, the result is an essayistic and self-reflective travelogue that hints at the deep longing of an entire generation for a better life.
Crew
| Written and Directed by | Ike Nnaebue |
| Cinematography | Jide Akinleminu |
| Editing | Matthieu Augustin |
| Colour Correction | Thibaut Pétillon |
| Music | Ikwan Onkha |
| Sound Design | Manu Vidal |
| Sound Mixing | Laure Arto |
| Sound | Eugène Safali, Ali Bambaoued |
| Production Manager | Corinne Delpech |
| Producers | Christilla Huillard-Kann, Okechukwu Omeire, Don Edkins, Tiny Mungwe |
| Associate Producer | Teboho Edkins |
Produced by: Passion 8 Communications Ltd, Nigeria + Steps, South Africa + Elda Productions, France
World Premiere at Berlinale 2022, Panorama Section
Awards:
Special Mention – Berlinale Documentary Award, Berlinale 2022
Winner Artistic Bravery – Durban International Festival Awards, 2022
Best Documentary – Africa Movie Academy Awards, 2022
Best Documentary – AFRIFF, 2022