Philadelphia Premiere
Omar Killed Me

The Gershman Y
Monday, November 5, 2012 / 7:30 PM

Director: Roschdy Zem
Morocco and France, 2011, 85 minutes
In French w/ English subtitles

"Je m'appelle Omar. Je suis le jardinier," were the only words Omar Raddad, an earnest Moroccan immigrant gardener, could say in French. Unfortunately, his simple line of defense was not enough to prevent an 18-year prison sentence for the murder of his wealthy employer. As Omar is subjected to a series of trials through which he hopes to earn his freedom, his life is turned upside down as he endures humiliation and hardship. Injustice is on display in this provocative courtroom thriller - a modern-day Dreyfus Affair - as the idea that two separate justices, one for the powerful and one for the poor, exist inside the French courthouse. Based on actual events, Omar Killed Me, the Moroccan entry for best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, is a gripping drama of a man facing prejudice and adversity under circumstances not of his own making.

Guest speaker: François Massonnat, Visiting Professor of French, Villanova University

Fall Film Festival sponsored by SEED THE DREAM FOUNDATION, Marcy Gringlas & Joel Greenberg

Watch the trailer now