Rania Lardjane

Rania Lardjane is a visual and textual storyteller. Born to a Palestinian-Arab father and an Algerian-Amazigh mother, she has a lot to tell. She studied Film Production at Dar Al-Kalima University in Bethlehem and finished a BFA degree in Film Studies at Concordia University, Canada. She is based between Ramallah, Tiohtiá:ke (MTL), and Algiers.

Rooted In and Out is a documentation that delves into the lives of my group of friends and my chosen family in Montreal. Despite our diverse religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, we share the common experience of being young adults and second-generation immigrants in Canada and navigating the complexities of building a home in a land where we do not participate in its histories. The film is a personal visual poem that features footage and images from our summer conversations, gatherings, and memories, alongside archival material delving into our private histories from our motherlands. The central theme revolves around exploring our deep and interconnected relationship with Canada, our communities, and with each other. It delves into our shared struggles with feelings of disconnection and the pressures of assimilation. We reflect on our experiences as community workers and activists, highlighting the challenges we face as low-income immigrants navigating complex systems. Through our narratives, we articulate our critiques and frustrations, shedding light on the realities of survival within these contexts.

@rania.lardjane 
Photo credits: artist