SILENT LEGACY (Finnish title: Katseiden alla)
“Silent Legacy expands to capture the emotions of millions of migrants around the world.”
– World's Pictorial Magazine
★★★★★
“Maybe the best documentary about migrants I’ve ever seen. [...] Fresh, sensitive, honest, unpretentious, wise and precise — yet surprisingly relaxed and even humorous in its portrayal of humanity.”
– Kulttuuritoimitus (Finnish cultural magazine)
SILENT LEGACY
“Documentaries on migratory journeys to Europe abound. But those that explore the hidden side of exile, once arrived, are rare. Silent Legacy lifts the veil on this blind spot.”
- Malik Berkati / J:mag
Documentary film 2025 | 88 min | Finland, France, Burkina Faso | Directed by Jenni Kivistö & Jussi Rastas
Finnish title: Katseiden alla
After a decade as a professional dancer and choreographer in Finland, Sibiry Konate yearns for his West African home village. However, in Burkina Faso he is seen not as the person he is, but as a wealthy European he is not. Caught between expectation and reality, Sibiry decides to return with a gift he hopes will lift the village out of colonial stagnation — and allow him to become a loved villager once again.
Silent Legacy explores identity, belonging, and responsibility through the perspective of a person navigating life between two worlds. It exposes the often-invisible pressures weighing on migrants — offering an intimate look at individuals forced to respond to an increasingly unequal world.
The film’s cinematic language combines observational documentary with contemporary dance, which is designed particularly for this film in collaboration with the protagonist.
DIRECTORS' WORD
In Europe, he is seen as “an African immigrant,” while in Africa he is viewed as “a privileged European.” We believe this film can offer a unique window into the little-known reality of migrants, where expectations, hopes, perceptions, and one’s own identity intertwine under the pressure of two very different worlds.
It is fascinating to understand how complex a migrant’s relationship with their country of origin can be — a bond that can be both a burden and an important source of strength. Finding genuine connection can at times be challenging in a world shaped by inequality and the lingering legacy of colonialism.
Sibiry’s inspiring and determined character, along with his ability to dream boldly, ties into a central global dilemma: in an increasingly unequal world where states fail to address disparities, migrants are often forced to search for — and create — solutions themselves.
“With tactful restraint and visual intuition, the production explores the protagonist [...] Alternating between naturalistic observation and surreal visuals, the enigmatic imagery reveals the omnipresent demands on people in the Diaspora.”
- Lida Bach / Moviebreak
Interested in screening the film?
Silent Legacy is available for festival screenings and thematic discussions around migration, identity, equality and contemporary dance. If you would like to screen the film at a film festival, please contact: info@rainafilms.com For all other screenings — including companies, cultural organisations, universities, community groups, institutions and special events — please reach out to: contact@vakifilms.com
We are happy to provide further information, materials and support for organising a meaningful screening experience.