Tori and Lokita 2023

In the gritty and emotionally charged drama, two young African immigrants, Tori (11) and Lokita (16), navigate the treacherous underbelly of Belgian society. Posing as siblings, they engage in illegal activities to secure Lokita’s legal status, with Tori leveraging his “witch child” visa to facilitate their efforts. However, their ruse is threatened when Lokita is denied papers after failing to convincingly portray herself as Tori’s sister, prompting a DNA test that would undoubtedly expose the truth.

As Lokita’s desperation grows, she agrees to work for chef Betim in exchange for fake papers, laboring in isolation within a hidden cannabis plantation. Tori, determined to be reunited with his friend and companion, manages to locate the shelter, hiding in Betim’s car to evade detection. Together, they orchestrate daring heists, stealing grass from the plantation to fund Lokita’s mother and siblings back home.

But their scheme is short-lived, as Lokita is caught and brutally wounded during their second visit. Fleeing for their lives, Tori watches in horror as Lokita falls victim to Betim’s henchman, Lukas, who takes her life with a merciless bullet. Despite the trauma, Tori manages to escape, only to deliver a poignant eulogy at Lokita’s funeral, lamenting that had she been granted legal papers, she would have realized her dream of working as an assistant in Belgium.

Through this gripping narrative, the film masterfully captures the resilience and resourcefulness of two young people fighting for survival against all odds, their bond transcending even death itself.