The Cinematheque

“A chillingly realistic scenario … The Land in the Shadows marks an assured [first] step for Grevis.”

Savina Petkova, Cineuropa

A tautly constructed, very impressive debut film from writer-director Lukas Grevis, In the Land of the Shadows tells the powerful, timely story of growing xenophobia in a village in Luxembourg. Concerned about the international crisis of migration and displacement, idealistic Jos and his girlfriend Sara want to create a centre for refugees. As their plans become more concrete, the community becomes anxious. When the mascot of the village, a wild dog, is mysteriously killed, Jos becomes the prime suspect. Misinformation, lies, rumours, and fear soon begin to turn the village against Jos and his family. Political and regional opportunists use the sentiments in their favour, and what started as an humanist gesture of compassion is thrust into the shadowy realms of mistrust and intolerance.

In Luxembourgish and Portuguese with English subtitles