Ama, the daughter of Senegalese asylum seekers, feels completely Dutch. When Ama’s mother and brother are arrested, Ama sets off in search of her father through Rotterdam in the middle of winter, hoping to avoid deportation. During this frightening and exciting journey, she discovers her roots, thanks in part to her extraordinary totem animal: a gigantic porcupine.
Totem Totem
Ama is really passionate about swimming and spends most of her free time practising for an important upcoming competition, together with her best friend, Thijs. Ama feels totally Dutch, even though her parents are asylum-seekers from Senegal.
directed by Sander Burger, screenplay Sander Burger, Bastiaan Tichler , music Amaury Laurent Bernier , cinematography Sal Kroonenberg , editing Manuel Rombley , cast Jean-Philippe Amani (Ama), Ole van Hoogdalem (Thijs), Lies Visschedijk (Thijs's mother), Emmanuel Ohene Boafo (Ama's father), Céline Camara (Ama's mother), producers Fleur Knopperts, Denis Vaslin
festivals, awards Cinekid 2022 (Audience Award), NYICFF 2023 – New York (Best Film), Giffoni 2023, JEF 2023 (Audience Award), BIKY – Busan 2023, CICFF 2023 –Chicago
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