DIE SCHWALBE
THE SWALLOW
Mano Khalil / Switzerland / 2016 / 102 min / Colour
Italian premiere
Young Mira, driven by the desire to find her father and with him her roots, leaves Switzerland for the Iraqi part of Kurdistan. In a land martyred by war, too often seen from a distance through the superficial and biased lens of television, Mira investigates her past, witnesses the current drama, and faces ethnic and religious conflicts. The encounter with Ramo, who accompanies her through the majesty of the mountains and the ruins of the bombed-out cities, changes both the young woman and her voyage. This is a story of searching, suffering, and rebirth, through the eyes of the director who returns to his homeland, to tell of it with great authenticity.
Mano Khalil
Khalil was born in Kamishly, in Syrian Kurdistan, and studied history and law at the University of Damascus and directing at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. After working for Czech and Slovakian television, he moved to Switzerland in 1996 where he now lives and works as a director and independent producer. In 2013 his documentary Der Imker won the Lessinia d’Argento.
Credits
Screenplay Mano Khalil, Daniela Baumgärtl,Daniel Casparis, M. Sauter, Martina KleinCinematography Revan RadweenSound Jürg LempenEditing Thomas BachmannMusic Mario BarkovicMain cast Manon Pfrunder, Ismail Zagros, Dejin Camil, Bangin AliProducer Mano KhalilProduction company Frame Film