A coming-of-age drama about 9 year-old Ephraim and his constant companion sheep, Chuni, in the vast volcanic canyon land of Ethiopia. Ephraim's affection for Chuni deepened after he lost his mother to famine the year before. Consequently, his beloved father sends him and Chuni faraway from their drought-stricken homeland to live with his distant relatives in a greener part of the country. Ephraim soon finds himself to be a homesick outcast who is always getting into trouble. When his uncle orders him to slaughter the sheep for the upcoming holiday feast, Ephraim devises a devious scheme to save Chuni and return to his homeland.

A film by Yared ZELEKE

2015 - France / Ethiopia / Germany / Norway - 1h34 - 1:85 - 5.1

starring Rediat Amare, Kidist Siyum, Wolela Assefa (or Welela Assefa), Surafel Teka, Rahel Teshome, Indris Mohamed

Directed by Yared ZELEKE

Country: ETHIOPIE, FRANCE, GERMANY, NORWAY
Year of production: 2014
Year of release: 2015 (Cannes Filmfest, France)
Duration: 90.00 minutes


Yared ZELEKE - Director

Executive Producer : Ama Ampadu (Slum Kid Films)

Production:
Slum Kid Films (Ethiopia)
Gloria Films / Dublin Films (France)
Heimat Film (Germany)
Film Farms (Norway)

With the support of ACPCulturesPlus Program (European Union, Secrétariat des Etats ACP), Région Aquitaine, CNC (Aide au Cinéma du Monde), Fonds MEDIA (ACP), FFA et CNC (mini-traité Franco Allemand), ZDF Arte, Sorfond, Doha Film Institute, EZEF, Visions Sud Est.

Distribution (France) : Haut et Court
World Sales: Films Distribution.

Financing acquired (before Cannes 2013): 0.3 M€
Budget total : 1,250,833.45 EUR
amount of the Grant from ACPCulturesPlus Program (European Union, Secrétariat des Etats ACP) : 495,000.00 EUR (39,57%)

Locations and shooting dates: 2 October to 20 November 2014 en Ethiopia (Gondar, Bale)
Language film shot in AMHARIC
Editing: December 2014 - January 2015 à Bordeaux, France.


2015 | Festival de Cannes
* Sélection - Un Certain Regard
* Première Mondiale - World Premiere
www.festival-cannes.fr

Der neunjährige Ephraim und sein Schaf Chuni sind unzertrennlich. Diese innige Beziehung wird Ephraim noch wichtiger, als seine Mutter stirbt und sein Vater mit ihm das Dorf verlassen will, um in der Stadt Arbeit zu suchen. Ephraim soll so lange bei seinen Verwandten im Hochland bleiben, bis er ihn nachholen könne. In der neuen Umgebung fühlt sich Ephraim fremd und alleine. Freude hat er nur, wenn er seine von der Mutter erworbenen Kochkünste ausüben darf - doch dies missfällt seinem Onkel ebenso, wie Ephraims enges Verhältnis zu seinem Schaf. Doch Ephraim lernt, sich zu behaupten und in seiner rebellischen Cousine Tsion findet er eine Verbündete …



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