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VISIONS DU RÉEL 2022

EXCLUSIVE: Trailer for Visions du Réel title My Paper Life

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- Vida Dena’s debut centres on a Syrian family living in a house in Brussels that seldom leaves the confines of its four pink walls

EXCLUSIVE: Trailer for Visions du Réel title My Paper Life

Set to world-premiere in the international feature film competition of this year’s Visions du Réel (7-17 April), Iranian director and artist Vida Dena’s feature-length documentary debut My Paper Life [+see also:
trailer
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is an intimate and subtly expansive portrait of a Syrian family living in a house in Brussels that seldom leaves the confines of its four pink walls. It focuses on the two eldest daughters, Hala and Rima, and the family’s growing collection of drawings and dreams. As their colourful sketches come alive, the young women recall their journey and their home, their plans to study and to marry, and what other possibilities they hope this new life might have in store.

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Speaking about the project, Vida Dena told Cineuropa: “It took me a while to find the right approach as so many things were happening in the family’s house. Images of the war in Syria were constantly interrupting through the television. But one thing was clear for all of us, we wanted to go beyond political judgments and find out about each other’s cultures, traditions and opinions. I wanted to focus on the love and warmth that existed in this family in spite of their harsh housing situation. For them, life continues, and they still try as best they can to enjoy it and to provide a bright future for their kids. Just like everyone else. This was my goal, and I hope this can come across to international audiences.”

My Paper Life is produced by Hanne Phlypo for Clin d'oeil films (Belgium) and Eugénie Michel-Villette for Les Films du Bilboquet (France) in co-production with Wild Heart Productions, Atelier Graphoui, CBA – Centre de l'Audiovisuel à Bruxelles and Shelter Prod. International sales are being handled by CAT&Docs.

Check out our exclusive trailer below:

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