A Girl from Mogadishu

Sunday, July 21, 2019

North American  Premiere. You might not think that the taboo topic of Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM) would lend itself to the traditional narrative of a heroine’s journey, but Ifrah Ahmed is no traditional heroine. A true story, based on the testimony of multi-award-winning Irish-Somali FGM campaigner (played by Aja Naomi King/How To Get Away With Murder), the film opens with a harrowing escape, as 17-year-old Ifrah flees war-torn Somalia, evading smugglers and traffickers to seek asylum in Ireland. Traumatized by the revelation of her FGM during a routine medical examination, she vows to dedicate her life to ending the practice. Learning English at record speed, she quickly emerges as a powerful speaker determined to legislate against it in Ireland and beyond. Her campaign takes her back to Somalia where she finally confronts her family for condoning the cultural practice of ‘cutting’. Invoking the power of testimony to strengthen, heal and channel change underpins this hopeful film about one woman’s determination to save all young girls at risk of FGM.

112 minutes. Directed by Mary McGuckian. 

Post-screening discussion with writer-director Mary McGuckian and real-life subject Ifrah Ahmed, moderated by journalist Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani of Verizon Media.

Screening as part of 51Fest: The Female Majority on Screen.

• Running Time 112 minutes

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.