A film that strikes you right in the heart, this semi-autobiographical film stars newcomer Manal Issa as a young Lebanese woman ‘Lina’ who struggles to survive in Paris by herself in the early 1990s; the characters she meets that shape her and her experiences are both unique and stellar in their own ways. In a harsh reality check, Lina discovers the chaos of home is no different than what she is confronted with in the French capital. Nevertheless, Paris offers her the opportunity to acquire a new self-confidence almost at odds with her own expectations. Racism, class conflict, deception and bureaucracy all play their part in this coming of age tale, but what really makes this film unmissable is the extraordinary, radiant performance of Issa in the central role.

Manal Issa will be in Kilkenny at the weekend to present the film.