The Molenbeek district of Brussels. A believed jihadi capital to some but familiar home to the 6 year-old boys Aatos and Amine. Together they search for answers to the big questions . But brutality of adult’s world hit them with a terrorist attack in their neighborhood . Atos aims to understand the Muslim faith of his friends Amine and Flo. Gods of Molenbeek is a portrait of childhood and friendship.
The director. “Aatos, my nephew, has Muslim friends and was very interested in their way of living the religion. Aatos had endless questions, and I showed the children’s point of view, leaving the adults in the background. These children discuss fundamental themes, but they do not judge, they learn from each other. While we were filming there was the terrorist attack that naturally expanded the theme of the film. I was interested to see how it was reflected in the children, in their games and in their thoughts.” [Reetta Huhtanen]
Reetta Huhtanen, lives in Helsinki. She graduated from the ELO Finland Film School of the University of Aalto in documentary direction. She also has a degree in Sociology and Philosophy. His films have been screened at many international film festivals.
GODS OF MOLENBEEK (Aatos Ja Amine). (Finlandia, Belgio, Germania, 2019, 73′). Director, Reetta Huhtanen; cinematographer, Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen; editing, Jamin Benazzouz; music, Tuomas Nikkinen, Cassis B Staudt; sound, Reetta Huhtanen, Bert Aerts; producer, Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen; co-producers, Hanne Phlypo, Alex Tondowski, Iris Pakulla; production, Zone2 Pictures; coproduction, Clin d’Oeil Films, Tondowski Films. With the support of Finnish Film Foundation, Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Casa Kafka Pictures, The Tax shelter of the Belgian federal government, AVEK, Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, The Church Media Foundation, The Harteley Film Foundation. In co-operation with YLE; in co-production with Canvas, NDR- Nord Deutcsher Rundfunk. A coproduction Rtbf Télévision Belge – Unité Documentaire. International sales and distribution Cat & Docs
