HARRAGA - THOSE WHO BURN THEIR LIVES

HARRAGA – THOSE WHO BURN THEIR LIVES

HARRAGA - THOSE WHO BURN THEIR LIVES

Director: Benjamin Rost
Documentary | Germany, Morocco | 2023
86 min | Dolby 5.1

57th Hof International Film Festival
2023

The Moroccan boys Imad (15), Nourdine (17), Walid (18) and Hamza (17) live in a cave under the lighthouse in Melilla. Every night they break into the harbor and try to climb on board the ships leaving for the Spanish mainland. In the shadow of the rocks, they created a micro-society with their own hierarchies, chants and rules. To pass the time, they phone their mothers on video or film themselves being chased by the police. The film follows the boys over five years. From their life in the caves to their attempted escapes to Spain. They call themselves: Harragas – those who burn the passports, the borders, their lives.

With Aziz Aziz, Hamza Hamza, Imad Imad, Mohamed Mohamed, Nourdine Nourdine, Walid Walid

Screenplay Hicham Bourais, Cinematography Jonas Schneider, Editing Erec Brehmer, Sound Benjamin Rost, Sound Design Volker Armbruster, Music Alexander Vicar, Swallow X, Mohamed, TV Commissioning Editor Marcus Vetter, Production Seloua Elgouni, Mark Szilagyi