Last Hijack

Apr 24 2014 Not Rated 1h 23m
Animation, Documentary

Documentary that follows the lives of two pirates and their community on the Somali coastline; what are the incentives of the pirates, why did they become pirates, how did they grow up in a country with political chaos, war and extreme poverty? The narrative structure is built around two interweaving story-lines; one depicting the "present", the daily lives of the pirates and their community, and the second in the "past", revealing through epic animation, the unfolding of a recent hijacking.

Plot

LAST HIJACK is a true tale of survival in Somalia told from the pirate's perspective. Combining animation with documentary storytelling, the film takes an innovative hybrid approach to explore how one Somali pirate - Mohamed - came to live such a brutal and dangerous existence. Animated re-enactments exploring Mohamed's memories, dreams and fears from his point of view are juxtaposed with raw footage from his everyday life in an original non-fiction narrative. Somalia is the worldwide capital of piracy, and Mohamed is one of Somalia's most experienced pirates. But in his homeland, a failed state, Mohamed is just another middle-aged man trying to make ends meet. Far removed from the glamour and adventure of the pirates of books and movies, Somali pirates face increasing scrutiny and stigmatization both at home and abroad. Now Mohamed is engaged and both his parents and his in-laws pressure him to change his ways before the big wedding day. Mohamed senses that the golden age of piracy may be coming to an end, and with pressure mounting to provide for his loved ones, he must decide whether to risk everything for one last hijack.

Written by

Tommy Pallotta, Femke Wolting

Directed by

Tommy Pallotta, Femke Wolting, Mirka Duijn

Cast

N/A

Production Countries

Germany, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands

Production Companies

Interkerkelijke Omroep Nederland (IKON), ZDF, Still Films, Savage Film, Submarine, Razor Film Produktion

Languages

English, Somali

Awards

3 wins & 3 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
148
Average Rating
6.2 out of 10
Metascore
61
Popularity
NA