INSHA ALLAH – GOD WILLING
Insha Allah describes what it is to live as a refugee in Finland at the turn of the millennium. The film follows the colourful life of two young Somalian families for almost a year. The documentary brings out the conflicts between the Somalis and their neighbours and the Finnish authorities.
There are two main characters in the film: Rashka and Farhaan. Rashka has decided to leave for Mogadishu to meet his mother. Rashka has not seen his mother for nine years and is anxious for her safety.
Farhaan dreams about peace and home-coming. The Finnish neighbours of Farhaan plan to turn his family out of the house. At the end of the film there is a trial in which the future of Farhaan and his family is determined.
The snow makes me suffer. I am finished.
I need people who I can go to.
I miss our villages.
I need a country that I can feel mine.
(Maryam Mursal)
Visa Koiso-Kanttila on Insha Allah:
Through the main characters, the film describes the Finnish society and its attitude towards people who represent a culture that is strange and different to ours. Some of the Finns in the film want to get along with the newcomers while on the other hand, Finland is to be seen as a cold and intolerant periphery. In 1998, seven people in Finland were granted asylum, and four hundred people got a residence permit.
Cinematography: Visa Koiso-Kanttila
Co-director: Iiris Härmä
Editing: Visa Koiso-Kanttila, Elina Katainen
Sound designer: Janne Jankeri
Music: Päivi Takala
In co-operation with: YLE TV2, Documentary Project, Iikka Vehkalahti
With the support of:
The Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture AVEK
Finnish Film Foundation
Ministry of Labour
Global Challenge Project, The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and The National Board of Education in Finland, European Social Fund ESF
Producer: Kristiina Pervilä, A Millennium Film Production 1999
Length: 54 minutes
Available on: Digital Betacam, DV-Cam, DVD
Colour, stereo