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Belgian Flemish film La Civil by Teodora Ana Mihai has been chosen for the Official Selection of the Festival de Cannes 2021, in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section. Following on from Hugo Claus’s The Sacrament in 1990 and Lukas Dhont’s Girl in 2018, this is only the third time in recent history that a Belgian Flemish production has been included in the prestigious official selection.

La Civil is the first fiction feature by Belgian-Romanian director, Teodora Ana Mihai (born 1981). The film tells the story of Cielo, a Mexican mother searching for her daughter who has been abducted by members of a drug cartel. As the authorities fail to help her, Cielo takes things into her own hands and gradually turns from housewife to avenging activist. The film was shot in November-December 2020 in Durango, Mexico, during the COVID-19 pandemic. La Civil is based on real events and is the result of several years of extensive research undertaken by the director in collaboration with Mexican writer Habacuc Antonio de Rosario.

The film was produced by Menuetto (Hans Everaert), an Antwerp-based production company in coproduction with high-profile partners, including the Dardenne brothers from Belgium (several Palmes d'Or), Cristian Mungiu from Romania (Palme d'Or) and Michel Franco from Mexico (Silver Lion, Venice). Cinéart will release the film in Belgium end 2021.

“I’m incredibly grateful that it has been possible to tell this heart-breaking story of women who lost their children to drug cartels,” says Teodora Mihai. "La Civil is a film about a strong woman and mother who refuses to be a victim and defends herself. She is motivated by a primal force to find her daughter at whatever cost. It is a universal story that will touch everyone."

La Civil was inspired by the terrifying stories of drug cartel victims and their families, such as the compelling and tragic life of Miriam Rodríguez, recently featured in the New York Times. The atmosphere of La Civil is reminiscent of the crime drama series Narcos, but is narrated from the victim’s point of view. Mexican writer Habacuc Antonio De Rosario co-wrote the screenplay with Teodora Mihai.

The lead role is played by Arcelia Ramirez, who starred in Such Is Life (Cannes, 2000) and I Carry You with Me (Sundance 2021). Álvaro Guerrero plays the role of the father, Gustavo. The charismatic Lieutenant Lamarque is played by Jorge A. Jimenez (Narcos and From Dusk till Dawn).

Teodora Ana Mihai was born in Bucharest, Romania, during the Ceausescu regime and moved to Belgium in 1989 with her parents. She discovered her passion for cinema at high school in San Francisco, California and went on to film school in New York. She started work in Belgium as a screen writer and then assistant director, in particular, for Frank Van Passel. Her documentary Waiting for August has won prizes in over ten countries and was nominated for the European Film Awards.

Habacuc Antonio De Rosario is a Mexican writer from Reynosa. In 2014 his book Without Trenches won the prestigious Premio Binacional de Novela Joven Frontera de Palabra (Border of Words Binational Youth Novel Prize). His latest book No me van a agarrar durmiendo (They won't catch me sleeping) will be published by Dharma Books in the autumn of 2021.

The director of photography is the famous Romanian Marius Panduru, who has made numerous films selected in festivals around the world.

La Civil was edited by Alain Dessauvage, who also edited Girl (2018) and so this is therefore his second film to be chosen for the official selection at Cannes.

La Civil is a production from Belgian company Menuetto (Hans Everaert) in coproduction with One for the Road (Teodora Ana Mihai - Belgium), Les Films du Fleuve (Brothers Dardenne - Belgium), Mobra Films (Cristian Mungiu - Romania) and Teorema (Michel Franco - Mexico).