The Mulberry House

Sara leaves the country at the age of 17. Several years later, she returns and suddenly finds herself in a country on the verge of shaking off its undemocratic leaders. Sara begins documenting the events in the streets. However, the most compelling aspect of the film is not the gunfire and drama but what takes place within the four walls of the family home, and the journey from the sidelines of politics to the front lines.

This is a film about belonging to two different worlds and creating a space for oneself somewhere in between. It is a film about people who speak to each other without fear, who trust one another even when they disagree. The film offers a glimpse into a foreign world—one that may not be so foreign after all.

Gjermund Granlund (Archive 2014)

Panel How can artistic freedom of expression be promoted in conflict areas?

For several years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has supported film productions in countries where filmmaking is challenging due to economic, political, or social reasons through the Sørfond funding scheme. In connection with the screening, Claire Hubert, Deputy Director of the Section for Human Rights, Democracy, and Gender Equality at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will take part in a conversation with the Norwegian producer, Ingrid Lill Høgtun. Lasse Skagen, Head of Programming for Films from the South, will moderate the conversation.

The event is done in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sørfond.

Director

Sara Ishaq (b. 1984) is a Yemeni-Scottish film director. She made her directorial debut with the short documentary Karama Has No Walls in 2012, which was later nominated for an Oscar. Her first feature-length film was The Mulberry House (2013), and she is currently working on her first narrative feature, The Station, which is supported by Sørfond.

This film is part of