Directed by Erige Sehiri and written by Sehiri, Anna Ciennik, and Malika Cécile Louati, Promised Sky is set in modern-day Tunisia. Marie (Aïssa Maïga), a pastor, moved to the country a decade ago in hopes of helping its citizens. To that end, she lets college student Jolie (Laetitia Ky) and bitter but hopeful mother Naney (Debora Lobe Naney) live with her. The three struggle day and night, as money is tight, but they make do.
Enter little Kenza (Estelle Kenza Dpgbo), an orphan girl who appears to be the only survivor of the boat she was on. Marie, Jolie, and Naney take Kenza, who’s maybe 5 or 6, in, even though they should have taken her to the authorities. The problem is that government officials, under authoritarian President Kais Saied’s orders, are rounding up anyone whom they don’t consider to be from Tunisia. This means that bringing the girl to the authorities is dangerous, putting the threesome, even though they are legally there, in the government’s crosshairs.
“…bringing the girl to the authorities is dangerous, putting the threesome, even though they are legally there, in the government’s crosshairs.”
Promised Sky starts as a simple observational drama. The story follows the main three throughout their days. An intense moment occurs when a riot almost breaks out over sugar. It establishes the unrest in the country without making it overt how bad things are there. Kenza’s presence brings levity, as she’s a fun-loving girl, but also danger. The screenplay lets this change happen organically, as the fragility of the adults’ bond comes into focus.
There’s a scene in which Marie asks her staff at the church whether they should keep its doors open. Maïga plays the moment with the right amount of grief and reserve. Debora Lobe Naney makes the somewhat selfish Naney into someone fun and likable. Ky wonderfully plays the stoic, head-down student until the narrative lets her break loose. There’s an intensity when Jolie tells Marie that she is actually only in it for the money. Dpgbo is adorable and brings the right amount of cuteness to the role.
The writing is the star of Promised Sky. The directing is pretty standard, but it does not impede the story’s flow or characterizations. The cast is strong, and the ending is the perfect culmination of everything that just happened.
For more information, visit the Promised Sky Film Movement page.
"…the writing is the star..."
