Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Berlin 2009 (International Competition)
The film portrays a young female soldier back home from a peacekeeping mission. She struggles to cope with this difficult experience. By showing how her father draws her back into his violent world, Little Soldier illuminates the issues of gender, father-daughter relations and trafficking. While not offering an easy resolution, the narrative depicts a move towards freedom. Visual reticence about her wartime experiences combine with excellent performances to enliven the film. The unstated memories of violence forged in a foreign war resonate with the hidden but very real violence in European societies.