Search Film, Company, People...

AWA IN THE DESERT

AWA EN EL DESIERTO

Animation - Development 2023

While trying to get in touch with her cousin, Awa (13), an Ivorian immigrant who arrived on the shores of Cadiz disguised as a boy, recalls the most decisive episodes of her migratory journey, taking refuge in the story of a legendary Ivorian warrior to cope with the trauma.

- Year of production
- 2023
- Genres
- Animation, Drama
- Countries
- SPAIN
- Languages
- FRENCH, SPANISH, WOLOF
- Writer(s)
- Julia HORRILLO, Veronica ADELL
- Synopsis
- A group of sub-Saharan migrants arrive at the coast of Cadiz. The police have intercepted them and directs them to a sports center where they will spend the night. Among them is AWA, a 13-year-old girl dressed as a boy. During the few hours that Awa is on European soil, she recalls the most shocking episodes of her journey, from when the war forced her to flee the Ivory Coast with her mother, to when she crossed the strait in a dinghy. In the meantime, she tries to escape to find her cousin Moussa who lives in Sevilla. Through her memories, Awa relives her journey, a long crossing full of bandits, corruption, racism, abuse, mafias, clandestine campaigns and impossible borders; a route that begins with her mother listening to the adventures of Akwa Boni, a legendary warrior whose story accompanies her and gives her strength. She takes refuge in those stories in moments of pain, doubt and fear, imagining that those adventures are reflections of her own, using it as a learning experience and facing her situation.