Hope

On the back of a truck deep in the Sahara desert, a young Nigerian woman and a Cameroonian man attempt a desperate journey to Europe. When title character Hope is singled out by the mostly male fellow travellers – despite her masculine disguise – she’s taken into the desert and raped by a group of soldiers. Only Leonard feels sympathy, and the two form an unlikely bond. In a fiercely hostile world where safety requires staying with one’s own people, they try to find their way together, and to find love amidst the chaos. Director Lojkine’s documentarian eye for detail, striking cinematography and impressive performances from the non-professional leads combine to make this ever more pertinent experience come to life on-screen.