Top 150 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2019: #124. Notre-Dame du Nil – Atiq Rahimi

Notre-Dame du Nil (Our Lady of the Nile)

Afghan filmmaker Atiq Rahimi moves into the French language with his third feature Notre-Dame du Nil (Our Lady of the Nile), produced by Marie Legrand, Rani Massalha and Dimitri Rassam (a co-production between The Drum and Chapter 2 Films). The film is based on the 2012 novel by Scholastique Mukasonga. Noted French actor Pascal Greggory presides over a cast including Amanda Mugabekazi, Albina Kirenga, Malaika Uwamahoro, Clariella Bizimana, and Belinda Rubango. Rahimi’s 2004 debut Earth and Ashes premiered in the Un Certain Regard sidebar at Cannes. His 2012 sophomore film The Patience Stone (read our read / interview) starred Golshifteh Farahani and premiered in the Toronto International Film Festival.

Gist: Adapted by Rahimi and Ramata Sy, the setting is 1973 Rwanda at an all-girls school, where deep-rooted cultural antagonisms begin to shape their futures.

Release Date/Prediction: Rahimi began filming in Rwanda in November 2018. A return to Cannes might be a possibility, either as a return to Un Certain Regard or an entry in Directors’ Fortnight. Otherwise a fall festival premiere, potentially as a candidate for Platform in Toronto.