‘Fauda’ Star in Historical Drama ‘Children of Nowhere’

Award-winning actress Laëtitia Eïdo, widely recognized for her compelling performance as Dr. Shirin El Abed in Netflix’s hit series ‘Fauda,’ is set to take on a leading role in Alia Azamat Ashkenazi’s forthcoming historical drama, ‘Children of Nowhere.’ The film promises a poignant exploration of a controversial and lesser-known chapter in French history, drawing inspiration from true events surrounding a relocation program on Réunion Island in the 1960s.

‘Children of Nowhere’: A Historical Unveiling

‘Children of Nowhere’ delves into the haunting legacy of a real-life government initiative that saw thousands of children displaced from La Réunion to rural France under misleading pretenses. The narrative unfolds across two distinct timelines, the 1960s and the 1980s, weaving a story of displacement, identity, and the search for truth.

The plot follows Nathan, a young ex-convict who returns to Réunion Island in search of his biological parents after being given away, and Chantal, his orphaned girlfriend. Chantal, also a victim of the program, is actively working on an exposé to unearth the disturbing realities of the scheme. Laëtitia Eïdo steps into the role of Briance, a French official who was instrumental in orchestrating these relocations decades earlier and now grapples with a quest for redemption.

Laëtitia Eïdo’s Engagement with the Project

Laëtitia Eïdo’s involvement brings significant weight to the project. Known for her roles in ‘Liaison’ and ‘Elyas,’ as well as her upcoming appearance in Terrence Malick’s ‘The Way of the Wind,’ Eïdo expressed her profound connection to the material. She revealed that she was unaware of the “Children of Creuse” tragedy before encountering the script, highlighting the film’s role in shedding light on a hidden historical era.

Eïdo stated, “Alia’s powerful vision and profoundly human screenplay revealed this hidden era of history to me — a film that exposes the wounds of colonialism through both intimate drama and sweeping historical truth. It moved me deeply, and I feel honored to bring Briance to life under the guidance of a director with such rare sensitivity and courage.” Her portrayal of Briance is expected to capture the intricate tension between duty and compassion at the heart of the story.

Alia Azamat Ashkenazi: Vision and Direction

The film is helmed by Alia Azamat Ashkenazi, a two-time United Nations Award winner with a strong background in theater and documentary filmmaking. Ashkenazi’s previous narrative works include the featurette ‘Esther’s Choice’ and the political thriller ‘The Russian Adoption.’ Her artistic vision for ‘Children of Nowhere’ is rooted in exploring profound human themes.

Ashkenazi commented on Eïdo’s casting, noting, “Laëtitia brings extraordinary emotional intelligence and humanity to her roles, and her portrayal of Briance captures the tension between duty and compassion at the heart of this story.” She further explained that ‘Children of Nowhere’ addresses what it means to nurture a child, and the consequences when the state presumes it can do so more effectively. The director emphasizes the film’s relevance beyond France’s past, drawing parallels to recurring tragedies of forced assimilation globally, such as Australia’s Stolen Generations and Canada’s Indigenous residential schools.

The Script and Production Landscape

The screenplay for ‘Children of Nowhere’ was penned by Alia Azamat Ashkenazi and Alan J. Robert, a native of Réunion Island. The script has garnered significant attention, notably being featured twice as a “BlackList Weekend Read” on The Black List, indicating its high regard within the industry.

The film is a co-production between HighBar Films, a U.S.-based, private equity-backed studio founded by Ashkenazi, and Tiktak Production, a French company based on Réunion Island, led by Laurent Médéa. This international collaboration will feature an ensemble cast with dialogue delivered in both English and French. Production is slated to commence in 2026, with filming expected to take place on location in La Réunion, grounding the historical drama in the very landscape where these impactful events unfolded.

Conclusion

‘Children of Nowhere’ stands as a significant cinematic endeavor, promising to bring a powerful and emotionally resonant historical account to the screen. With Laëtitia Eïdo’s compelling talent leading an international cast under Alia Azamat Ashkenazi’s sensitive direction, the film is poised to offer a critical examination of historical injustices and the enduring human quest for identity and redemption.