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Heart of Fire by Senait G. Mehari6/1/2023 ![]() When guns go off, the terror in her face is palpable. She cannot hide her inquisitive look and restless mind. Micael is always in the moment, spontaneously reacting to what is happening around her. Her instincts are not that of a trained actor, and that’s to the film’s benefit. Ten-year-old Letekidan Micael plays his heroine, Awet. He found actors in an Eritrean refugee camp in northern Kenya whose own sad reality gives his film all the authenticity it needs. The intimidation of his original cast by Eritrean government supporters forced Falorni to recast his film five days before shooting, and what a stroke of good fortune that turned out to be. A few protesters even stood outside the Palast before its first press screening here, holding signs denouncing the film’s “distortions.” Meanwhile, the Eritrean government has steadfastly - and falsely - maintained that no children took up arms in the war. Mehari has been sued by fellow child soldiers who accuse her of fictionalizing much of her account. It even has its own controversy to help with the publicity. “Heart of Fire” is a cinch for most festival play but could do business in art house venues around the world. ![]()
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