By The person who just left the cinema: Cristina Corduneanu-Huci
Dir: Jihan Kikhia / 88‘ / Libya, Qatar, USA / 2025 / Arabic, English, French / English Subtitles
The film explores the disappearance of Mansur Rashid Kikhia, a Libyan opposition leader who vanished in Cairo in 1993, and the impact of this event on his family. His daughter tries to piece together the life of her father, who vanished when she was still a child. She traces the footsteps of her father—a Libyan human rights lawyer, former Foreign Minister, and UN Ambassador—who stood up against an increasingly brutal regime and became the peaceful voice of the opposition.
The film’s director, Jihan Kikhia, grew up in exile while her mother, a Syrian artist, fought for justice in the public eye, and she strives to fill the void that shaped her identity. The film draws its power from the act of listening. Family members, friends, and former colleagues speak openly; archives are used not only as evidence but also to revive memory.
Going beyond the search for a missing father, the film sheds light on Libya’s history during and before the Gaddafi era within the context of colonialism, imperialism, and foreign intervention.
After the film, political scientist Cristina Corduneanu-Huci will give a speech as “the person who just left the cinema.”
Cristina Corduneanu-Huci (PhD in Political Science, Duke University) is an Associate Professor at the Department of Public Policy, Central European University. Her research focuses on government transparency, international development, bureaucracies and autocratic politics. In addition, she has been involved in projects regarding the rule of law and public financial management in the Middle East and North Africa. She is the co-author of two books (Understanding Policy Change: How to Apply Political Economy Concepts in Practice and Rules on Paper, Rules in Practice: Enforcing Laws and Policies in the Middle East and North Africa) and of a number of articles, reports and book chapters exploring the role of political institutions in economic development.
For Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoU-DC8meGI
*The discussion will be in English and the film has English subtitles.
This event takes place with the support of the 14th District (Penzing) and the City of Vienna MA7. Free admission!
Date: 19.05.2026, 19:00
Place: Breitenseer Lichtspiele, Breitenseer Straße 21, 1140 Vienna
