Sombra nómada film explores Sahrawi identity and displacement

The film ‘Sombra nómada’, directed by Eimi Imanishi, explores the complex identity and displacement of the Sahrawi people. Set against the backdrop of the Moroccan desert and Western Sahara, the story follows Mariam, a young Sahrawi woman portrayed by Nadhira Mohamed, who returns to her family home in El Aaiún after being deported from Spain.

Imanishi, a Japanese-American filmmaker, drew from personal experiences to depict the dual nature of Sahrawi exile: the well-known external exile in refugee camps in Algeria, and the less visible internal exile of those living under Moroccan administration. The film focuses on the personal tragedy of belonging to no specific place, portraying characters as individuals with diverse desires and struggles rather than mere political symbols.