Gods of Molenbeek

After terrorist attacks in Belgium and France respectively, the Brussels neighbourhood of Molenbeek has been named as a hotbed for developing jihadism. Molenbeek is also home to Aatos and Amine, two six-year-olds who live in the same apartment building even if they are from different worlds. Aatos’s dad is from Chile, his mother is from Finland, and he goes to a French-language school; while Amine goes to an Arabic-language school, and his parents are from Morocco. While safety measures grow ever stricter at the local metro stop and soldiers march the streets of their local neighbourhood, the boys keep playing like most children do. They climb, bicycle, draw, and dress up. All around them, adults march in protest against hate and terrorism.

Despite their young age, the boys raise some pretty big questions – about life, death, religion, and faith. While Amine believes in Allah, Aatos wants a god of his own. Another friend, Flo, is of the opinion that people who believe in a god have lost their minds. The children are inquisitive, charming, and innocent; in stark contrast to the gruesome acts of terrorism that have hit their home town.

Gods of Molenbeek is a heart-warming film about friendship, life, and death, told from the perspective of children – even visually speaking. It offers insight into the magical world of childhood, while also suggesting that people can learn to bond with one another across social, cultural, and religious differences.