French-Tunisian filmmaker Erige Sehiri has unveiled the trailer for her latest film, Promised Sky, which premiered at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section. Luxbox is managing global sales, while French distribution is handled by Jour2Fête.

This film follows the narrative of Marie, an Ivorian pastor and former journalist who finds herself in Tunisia for a decade. Her home transforms into a sanctuary for Naney, a young mother searching for a brighter future, and Jolie, a determined student carrying her family’s aspirations. The unexpected arrival of an orphan girl tests their solidarity and resilience amidst a volatile social backdrop.

Sehiri collaborated with Anna Ciennik and Malika Cécile Louati on the screenplay, weaving a narrative that reflects personal experiences and societal realities. Given the rising tensions surrounding migration in Tunisia, Sehiri’s exploration captures the essence of these current issues.

“As a Tunisian woman myself, I’m deeply frustrated to see that we can’t welcome migrants with dignity, even though we’re from a country with such a wide diaspora ourselves. We act as if all of us weren’t living on the same continent, as if all of us weren’t Africans,” Sehiri elaborates on the complex dynamics between Tunisians and migrants.

Sehiri noted that while the initial aim was not to document the political climate, the film’s development became intertwined with Tunisia’s tumultuous reality. She acknowledged the challenges of portraying sensitive topics without resorting to stereotypes:

“At first, it was not my intention to document what was happening in Tunisia, but over time, the movie began to mirror the political situation of the country. Reality caught up with the story we were writing.”

“With mass arrests and raids taking place all around Tunisia, we began to ask ourselves: how can we breathe these tensions into our story without turning our characters into outdated, reductive stereotypes?”

The film’s visual storytelling is enhanced by the work of Frida Marzouk, a notable cinematographer known for her contributions to films like Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013) and the recent documentary Bye Bye Tiberias (2023).

The ensemble cast includes talents such as Aïssa Maiga, Debora Lobe Naney, Laetitia Ky, and Estelle Kenza Dogbo, among others. The film is produced by Didar Domehri and Erige Sehiri under their banners, Maneki Films and Henia Production, with co-production support from Canal+, Mad Solutions, and Pathé Touch Afrique, as well as participation from TV5 Monde.