The Gravedigger's Wife () is a drama film, directed by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed and released in 2021.Kaleem Aftab, "Review: The Gravedigger's Wife". Cineuropa, July 7, 2021. The film is a coproduction of companies from France, Germany and Finland.Lisa Nesselson, "‘The Gravedigger’s Wife’: Cannes Review". Screen Daily, July 7, 2021.
Ahmed's feature debut, the film was inspired by a death in his own family approximately a decade earlier.Marta Bałaga, "‘Finnish Cinema Is So White,’ Says ‘The Gravedigger’s Wife’ Helmer Khadar Ayderus Ahmed". Variety, September 15, 2021. It was shot in 2019, although release was delayed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disruptions of film distribution in 2020.
The film premiered in the Critics' Week program at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. It was subsequently screened at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was one of the winners of the Amplify Voices Award.Steve Pond, "‘Belfast’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award". TheWrap, September 18, 2021. It was selected as the Somali entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards, the first time that Somalia had submitted a film.
Plot Guled (Omar Abdi), a gravedigger in Djibouti, is struggling to raise money to pay for surgery when his wife Nasra (Yasmin Warsame) becomes gravely ill with kidney disease.
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultRef2021Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest FilmThe Gravedigger’s WifeBest DirectorKhadar AhmedBest Actor in a Leading RoleOmar AbdiAchievement in MakeupThe Gravedigger’s WifeAchievement in CinematographyAchievement in Production DesignBest SoundtrackBest SoundBest First Feature Film by a DirectorThe Gravedigger’s Wife/Khadar Ahmed
See also List of submissions to the 94th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film List of Somalian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
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