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It Must Be Heaven

  • IMBH / Ce doit être le paradis (Working title)
All titles (5)
Feature Film | 2018-2019 | Tragicomedy | Canada, France, Germany, Palestine, Turkey

Trailers/Videos

Brief synopsis

Elia Suleiman, the central character and narrator, escapes from Palestine seeking an alternative homeland, only to realize that Palestine is always there, just behind him. The promise of a new life soon turns into a comedy of errors. However far he travels, from Paris to New York or Doha, something reminds him home: the police, border controls and racism are never far away… And while he does everything he can to integrate into a new society, trying to erase the traces of his nationality, everyone constantly reminds him of where he has come from. As he wanders and wonders, through searching and self-searching, Elia Suleiman asks the fundamental question: where can we truly call home? From award-winning director Elia Suleiman, a burlesque saga exploring identity, nationality and belonging… in which humour brings new hope for others and for Suleiman himself.
(https://www.wildbunch.biz/movie/it-must-be-heaven/)

Cast

ActorRole nameVoice actor / SpeakerVoice actor
Elia SuleimanElia Suleiman [L]
Gael Garcia BernalHimself [GS]
Tarik KoptyNeighbour - Father (Nazareth) [SR]
Kareem GhneimNeighbour - Son (Nazareth) [SR]
George KhleifiWaiter (Nazareth) [SR]
Ali SulimanBrother in the restaurant (Nazareth) [SR]
Fares MuqabaaBrother in the restaurant (Nazareth) [SR]
Yasmine HajSister in the restaurant (Nazareth) [SR]
Nael KanjBishop (Nazareth) [SR]
Asmaa AzaiBedouin (Nazareth) [SR]
Grégoire ColinMan in the Metro (Paris) [SR]
Vincent MaravalProducer (Paris) [SR]
Claire DumasParamedic (Paris) [SR]
Antoine CholetParamedic (Paris) [SR]
Éric CornetHomeless man (Paris) [SR]
Yumi NaritaJapanese woman (Paris) [SR]
Kengo SaitoJapanese man (Paris) [SR]
Stephen McHattieFortune-teller (New York City) [SR]
Raïa HaïdarFemen (New York City) [SR]
Fadi SakrMaître de cérémonie (New York City) [SR]
Kwasi SonguTaxi driver (New York City) [SR]
Guy SprungProfessor (New York City) [SR]
Nancy GrantProducer (New York City) [SR]
Alain DahanAirport security officer [SR]
Natascha WieseGirl

Crew

ActivityNameComment
Production accountantSéverine Barré
Rectangle Productions
Rectangle Productions
Production accountantValérie Delache
Rectangle Productions
Rectangle Productions
Production accountantYolaine Lavigne
Possibles Médias
Possibles Médias
Assistant production accountantElaine Bigras
Possibles Médias
Possibles Médias
1st ADJeremy Peter Allen
Montréal
Montréal
1st ADÉric Chabot
Nazareth
Nazareth
1st ADBarbara Canale
Paris
Paris
2nd ADJeanne Tassy
Paris
Paris
2nd ADReem Jubran
Nazareth
Nazareth
2nd ADJulie Gamache-Maher
Montréal
Montréal
3rd ADMarylou Weber
Paris
Paris
3rd ADCarl Kouri
Montréal
Montréal
Floor 3rd ADAyed Fadel
Nazareth
Nazareth
AD PAMiriam Gazmawe
Nazareth
Nazareth
AD PASuleiman Hussein
Nazareth
Nazareth
AD PADanial Naser
Nazareth
Nazareth
AD PAJulian Isaaq
Nazareth
Nazareth
AD PAOdai Masri
Nazareth
Nazareth
AD PAMoody Kabalawi
Nazareth
Nazareth
Vfx producerSonia Marques
Montréal
Montréal
Post production supervisorMélanie Karlin
Vfx supervisorThomas Duval
Paris
Paris
Vfx supervisorÉmilien Lazaron
Montréal
Montréal
Director of photographySofian El Fani
Additional photographyThomas Handtke
1st assistant cameraThomas Handtke
l
l
2nd assistant cameraGérard Martin
Montréal
Montréal
2nd assistant cameraRiyad Shamas
Nazareth
Nazareth
2nd assistant cameraPaul Günther
ALEXA Mini/ ALEXA SXT/ Paris Part
ALEXA Mini/ ALEXA SXT/ Paris Part
Data wrangler / digital loaderRonald Casseus
Montréal
Montréal
Data wrangler / digital loaderAdrien Heylen
Paris
Paris
Data wrangler / digital loaderJulie Dakwar
Nazareth
Nazareth
Still photographerMaria Zreik
Nazareth
Nazareth
Still photographerCarole Bethuel
Casting directorMurielle Laferrière
Montréal
Montréal
Casting directorJuna Suleiman
Nazareth
Nazareth
Casting directorRichard Rousseau
Paris
Paris
Casting assistantMarie-Claude Robitaille
Montréal
Montréal
Casting assistantLama Suleiman
Nazareth
Nazareth
Extras/bit player castingAmélie Covillard
Paris
Paris
Extras/bit player castingJulie Breton
Montréal
Montréal
Extras/bit player castingLama Suleiman
Nazareth
Nazareth
Extras/bit player castingValérie Dias
Paris
Paris
Extras/bit player castingMarine Pédeboscq
assistante, Paris
assistante, Paris
Costume designerAlexia Crisp Jones
Costume designerÉric Poirier
Montréal
Montréal
Assistant costume designerIrène Bernaud
Paris
Paris
Key costumerMarie-Noëlle Klis
Wardrobe Mistress Montréal
Wardrobe Mistress Montréal
Costumer / wardrobeMarie-Claude Dextradeur
Key Dresser Montréal
Key Dresser Montréal
Costumer / wardrobeSaher Okal
Nazareth
Nazareth
Costumer / wardrobeChris Issa
Nazareth
Nazareth
Costumer / wardrobeVania Khandjian
Montréal
Montréal
Costumer / wardrobePauline Juille
Paris
Paris
Additional costumersIsabelle Savard
extras airport Montréal
extras airport Montréal
DirectorElia Suleiman
Script supervisorLou Wildemann
France
France
Script continuityElie Rezek
Nazareth
Nazareth
Script continuityLaurie Mannessier
Montréal
Montréal
EditorVéronique Lange
Assistant editorChrystel Alépée
Key gripGal Altshuler
Nazareth
Nazareth
Key gripMorvan Omnès
Paris
Paris
GripOmer Kvashne
Best Boy Grip Nazareth
Best Boy Grip Nazareth
GripStéphane Pilon
Montréal
Montréal
GripDavid Nahmani
Nazareth
Nazareth
GripJulien Gérard
Paris
Paris
GripZiv Raviv
Nazareth
Nazareth
GripSteven McMahon
Best Boy Grip Montréal
Best Boy Grip Montréal
GripLukas Nichol
Montréal
Montréal
Rigging gripJeff Nichol
Montréal
Montréal
Crane operatorDaniel Kaluzky
Nazareth
Nazareth
Remote head technicianRoy Biberman
Nazareth
Nazareth
GafferFrançois Legris
Montréal
Montréal
GafferHabib Ben Salem
Nazareth & Paris
Nazareth & Paris
Best boy electricNicolas Kitai
Nazareth
Nazareth
Best boy electricMichael Ohayon
Montréal
Montréal
Lighting technician / electricianJulien Brumauld
Paris
Paris
Lighting technician / electricianJoël Giroux
Lighting technician / electricianConrad Roy
Lighting technician / electricianHenryk Olk
Teil Paris , Technik aus Köln 1 Monat
Teil Paris , Technik aus Köln 1 Monat
Lighting technician / electricianMyriam Pineault
Montréal
Montréal
Lighting technician / electricianPhilippe St-Laurent Lévesque
Lighting technician / electricianMutaz Ayyad
Nazareth
Nazareth
Lighting assistantTomer Slotski
Nazareth
Nazareth
Key makeup artist/hair stylistGrit Hildenbrand
Makeup artistJulia Floch
extras, Paris
extras, Paris
Assistant makeup artistJomana Salami
Nazareth
Nazareth
Assistant makeup artistRasha Suleiman
Nazareth
Nazareth
ProducerElia Suleiman
Nazira Films
Nazira Films
ProducerLaurine Pelassy
Rectangle Productions
Rectangle Productions
ProducerÉdouard Weil
Rectangle Productions
Rectangle Productions
Co-producerSerge Noël
Possibles Media
Possibles Media
Co-producerZeynep Ozbatur Atakan
ZeynoFilm
ZeynoFilm
Co-producerThanassis Karathanos
Pallas Film
Pallas Film
Co-producerMartin Hampel
Pallas Film
Pallas Film
Production designerDavid Gaucher
Assistant production designerFrancis Guibet
Paris
Paris
Art directorMaha Haj
Nazareth
Nazareth
Art directorCaroline Alder
Montréal
Montréal
Set decoratorMarion Pagès-Gonzalo
Paris
Paris
Set decoratorElise Deblois
Montréal
Montréal
Set decoratorMary Lynn Deachman
Montréal
Montréal
Set decoratorRabia Salifiti
Nazareth
Nazareth
Assistant set decoratorJocelyne St-Pierre
Montréal
Montréal
Art department assistantAssaf Safuri
Nazareth
Nazareth
Art department assistantHanna Hazan
Nazareth
Nazareth
Art department assistantSameer Hawa
Nazareth
Nazareth
Prop masterVéronique Arcuette
Montréal
Montréal
Prop masterOlivier Proulx
Montréal
Montréal
Prop masterFrank Pitussi
Paris
Paris
Standby propsThéophile Ferrier
Paris
Paris
Standby propsHilal Jabareen
Nazareth
Nazareth
Standby propsBruno La Haye
Montréal
Montréal
Art department coordinatorAnnette Belanger
Montréal
Montréal
Assistant stand by propsSarah Rose Buchanan
1st Assisstant, Montréal
1st Assisstant, Montréal
Assistant stand by propsJessica Surendorff
2nd Assistant, Montréal
2nd Assistant, Montréal
Picture car/vehilcle coordinatorEric Brais
Montréal
Montréal
Location scoutAlexandre Bloch
Paris
Paris
Location scoutDimitri Chalazonitis
Paris
Paris
Scenic painterLaure de Miramon
Montréal
Montréal
Scenic painterFrancois Touhas
Montréal
Montréal
Property driverJean Segura
Paris
Paris
Property driverBruno Lapassatet
Paris
Paris
Line producerBaher Agbariya
Nazareth
Nazareth
Production managerSerge Catoire
Paris
Paris
Production managerHiba Salameh
Nazareth
Nazareth
Production managerMichel Croteau
Montréal
Montréal
Production coordinatorBéatrice Moukhaiber
Montréal
Montréal
Production coordinatorSabine Kaps
Germany
Germany
Assistant production managerNoémie Robert
Rectangle Productions
Rectangle Productions
Assistant production managerMarine Bocher
Rectangle Productions
Rectangle Productions
Unit manager (local system)Eric Lebeau
Montréal
Montréal
Location managerVéronique Mathieu
Montréal
Montréal
Location managerValentin Tourdjman
Paris
Paris
Location managerKarim Ghneim
Nazareth
Nazareth
Set manager/ floor managerJean-François Hamelin
Montréal
Montréal
Production secretaryLaetitia Dom
Paris
Paris
Assistant location managerFlorent Cassiani-Ingoni
Paris
Paris
Production assistantLéo Grignon
Paris
Paris
Production driverFrederic Myre
Montréal
Montréal
Production driverWalter Diaz
Montréal
Montréal
Utility driverMaxime Péladeau-Mercier
Montréal
Montréal
Utility driverKhaled Abu Leil
Nazareth
Nazareth
Set runnerFiras Ghrayeb
Nazareth
Nazareth
ScreenwriterElia Suleiman
Production sound mixerJohannes Doberenz
Production sound mixerKai Hesselbarth
Vertretung für eine Woche in Nazaret
Vertretung für eine Woche in Nazaret
Boom operatorKai Hesselbarth
Boom operatorIbrahim Zaher
Nazareth
Nazareth
Sound re-recording mixerLars Ginzel
Stunt coordinatorVictor Francisco
Paris
Paris
Stunt coordinatorTyler Hall
Montréal
Montréal
Stunt driverRaphaël Chiquet
Biker Paris
Biker Paris
Animal trainerPascal Tréguy
Paris
Paris
Caterer (cook on set)Adham Zayad
Nazareth
Nazareth
Personal assistantSophia Harb
Nazareth
Nazareth

Production companies

CompanyComment
Rectangle Productions [fr]
Possibles Média Inc. [ca]
Majdal Films [il/ps]
Pallas Film GmbH
co-production
co-production
Zeyno Film [tr]
Arte [de/fr]
participation
participation
ZDF - Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
participation
participation

Distribution / Sales companies

CompanyComment
Goodfellas / Wild Bunch Distribution [fr]
International Sales
International Sales
Le Pacte [fr]
France (theatrical)
France (theatrical)
Maison 4:3 [ca]
Canada (theatrical)
Canada (theatrical)
Neue Visionen Filmverleih GmbH [de]
Germany
Germany

Facilities

DepartmentCompanyComment
Cameras and UtilitiesARRI Rental Deutschland GmbH
Cameras and UtilitiesGriffin Higher Photography [il]
Drone Nazareth
Drone Nazareth
Cameras and UtilitiesMTL Grandé Camera [ca]
Montréal
Montréal
Cameras and UtilitiesperDU.film GmbH
LAB. DATA. Rental.
LAB. DATA. Rental.
Cameras and UtilitiesUtopia Camera Service [il]
Tel-Aviv
Tel-Aviv
GripGriffin Higher Photography [il]
Drone Operator Nazareth
Drone Operator Nazareth
Production ServicesAmbr Ltd [il]
Nazareth
Nazareth
Production ServicesMajdal Production Ltd. [il]
Nazareth
Nazareth

Awards

Award winnerYearAwardCategory 
Elia Suleiman2019Festival de Cannes [fr]
Mention spéciale
Mention spécialeWinner
Elia Suleiman2019Festival de Cannes - Prix Fipresci [fr]Winner

Festivals

YearCountryFestivalComment
2020USAPalm Springs International Film Festival
Awards Buzz: Best International Feature Film nominiert
Awards Buzz: Best International Feature Film nominiert
2019South KoreaBusan International Film Festival
Sektion: Icons
Sektion: Icons
2019FranceFestival de Cannes
Sélection officielle - Compétition
Sélection officielle - Compétition
2019GermanyInt. Fünf Seen Filmfestival
Reihe: Panorama
Reihe: Panorama
2019CanadaToronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
Masters
Masters

TV-broadcast

TypeCountryStationDate / TimeComment
RepeatFrancearteWednesday, 18/05/2022, 11.55 PM
First showingGermanyarteWednesday, 18/05/2022, 8.15 PM
RepeatBelgiumBe TV [be]Sunday, 18/04/2021, 9.00 AMBe Ciné
RepeatBelgiumBe TV [be]Friday, 09/04/2021, 3.30 PMBe Ciné
RepeatBelgiumBe TV [be]Thursday, 01/04/2021, 4.40 AMBe Ciné
RepeatFranceOCS [fr]Saturday, 13/02/2021, 1.55 PMOCS City
RepeatFranceOCS [fr]Friday, 05/02/2021, 6.15 PMOCS City
RepeatBelgiumBe TV [be]Monday, 01/02/2021, 7.00 AMBe 1
RepeatFranceOCS [fr]Thursday, 28/01/2021, 9.45 PMOCS City
RepeatBelgiumBe TV [be]Sunday, 24/01/2021, 11.45 PMBe 1

Cinema releases and premieres

TypeCountryDateComment
Theatre releaseGermanyThursday, 16/01/2020
Theatre releaseFranceWednesday, 04/12/2019
PremiereFriday, 24/05/2019Festival de Cannes [fr]