Memories of the Foreign (Vorfilm) & A Normal Life

Set against the backdrop of post-war displacement, this film delicately captures the daily lives of four Bosnian women who, after fleeing the devastation of the Yugoslav Wars, have rebuilt their lives as cleaning women in Vienna. A Normal Life teems with raw, vulnerable glimpses into the lives of these women—their work, their unique paths to healing, and the resilience they’ve cultivated to overcome trauma. Through their stories, layers of historical and political context unfold, revealing parallels to the present day, marked by economic instability and uncertainty yet also by enduring hope.

Opening film: Memories of the Foreign (Tolga Karaaslan, 2023, 4 min).

Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with directors Inès Khanoussi (A Normal Life) and Tolga Karaaslan (Memories of the Foreign), moderated by Mercan Falter (Chamber of Labour Vienna), in cooperation with Arbeiterkammer Wien.