Our Lady of the Nile | Notre-Dame du Nil

Carmel International Competition

It’s a story that leaves a deep impression

The Hollywood Reporter
  • Archive - Festival 36
  • Director: Atiq Rahimi
  • France, Belgium, Rwanda 2019
  • 93 minutes
  • French, Kinyarwanda
  • Subtitles in Hebrew

Rwanda, 1973. Young girls are sent to Our Lady of the Nile, a prestigious Catholic boarding school perched on a hill, where they are taught to become the Rwandan elite. With graduation on the horizon, they share the same dormitory, the same dreams and the same teenage concerns. But throughout the land as well as within the school, deep-seated antagonism is rumbling, about to change these young girls’ lives - and the entire country - forever.

Atiq Rahimi adapts Scholastique Mukasonga's acclaimed novel and presents a contemplative and captivating coming-of-age with hypnotic cinematography and Impressive performances by an ensemble of non-professional actors.

Filmography: The Patience Stone (2012), Earth and Ashes (2004).


  • Director Atiq Rahimi
  • Production Dimitri Rassam, Rani Massalha, Marie Legrand, Charlotte Casiraghi
  • Script Atiq Rahimi, Ramata Sy
  • Cinematography Thierry Arbogast
  • Editing Hervé de Luze, Jacqueline Mariani
  • Music Aldo Romano, Henri Sexier, Louis Sclavis
  • Festivals Toronto, Berlin (Generation 14+ Best Film Award)
  • Actors Amanda Santa Mugabekazi, Albina Sydney Kirenga, Malaika Uwamahoro, Clariella Bizimana
  • Source Indie Sales, Paris