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Valley of Exile

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Canadian Premiere

Set in the early years of the Syrian war, Valley of Exile chronicles the journey of Rima and Nour, two sisters who find unexpected refuge in a makeshift settlement in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley after fleeing war-torn Damascus. Older sister Rima, who is eight months pregnant, is set on reuniting with her husband and rebuilding their lives in Lebanon, while younger sister Nour is determined to find their missing brother and eventually returns home to Syria.​ In the camp, the sisters forge alliances with other women who are similarly forced to live without the support of family they’ve lost to the war. This propels them onto separate paths. But as days in the camp turn to weeks, Rima and Nour begin to realize that their exile is not only a struggle for survival, but ultimately a test of loyalty to their country, their family and each other. Director Anna Fahr portrays the beauty that exists in humanity in even the hardest times. The strong female leads and matriarchal emphasis distinguish this movie from other films of this type.

 

Community Partner

Director
Cast

Maria Hassan, Hala Hosni, Michel Hourani, Najwa Kondakji, Joy Hallak, Sajed Amer

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada/Lebanon

Year

2023

Language

In Arabic with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
Content Warning

War, Famine, Refugee Camps

18+
106 min
Drama Women Directors

Book Tickets

Saturday September 30

9:15 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
International Village 10
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Sunday October 01

9:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
International Village 8
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Credits

Executive Producer

Paul Scherzer, Aeschylus Poulos

Producer

Lara Abou Saifan, Anna Fahr

Screenwriter

Anna Fahr

Cinematography

Mark Khalife

Editor

Anna Fahr, Wajdi Elian

Production Design

Pamela Khadra

Original Music

Alan Spiljak

Director

Anna Fahr headshot

Anna Fahr

Anna Fahr is an Iranian-Canadian-American filmmaker and founder of Morning Bird Pictures, a Toronto-based production company dedicated to creating films and new media that focus on the contemporary Middle East and diaspora. Her latest projects include the award-winning interactive web-docs, Migrant Mothers of Syria and My Life in Limbo. Her last dramatic short, Transit Game was shot in north Lebanon and screened in 50+ international festivals, winning prizes in Berlin, San Francisco and Florence. Anna’s first feature documentary, Khaneh Ma: These Places We Call Home, screened in international festivals and was theatrically released in Montreal. Valley of Exile is her debut narrative feature.

Filmography: Khaneh Ma: These Places We Call Home (2006)

Focus: Women, Life and Freedom

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