The Perfect Story is a heart-wrenching and provocative look at journalism, belonging, the stories we tell, and who gets to tell them. The film follows the decade-long relationship between Canadian journalist Michelle Shephard and Ismael Abdulle, a young Somali refugee who had his hand and foot cut off by the terrorist group al-Shabab. Their story begins in 2010, when they met during one of Michelle’s reporting trips to Mogadishu for the Toronto Star. Her articles about Ismael sparked a movement within the Somali diaspora that helped him escape Mogadishu and find refuge in Harstad, Norway, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. For nearly a decade, Ismael embraced his new home, learning to speak Norwegian fluently and attempting to adapt to his new country. When Ismael goes back to Mogadishu, an unexpected turn of events forces Michelle to defy one of journalism’s golden rules—“report the story, don’t become part of it”—and makes her question her role as a storyteller.
One-liner
This riveting, intimate look at the relationship between a foreign correspondent and a young Somali refugee explores the psychological toll of the stories we tell.
Two-Line Description
The Perfect Story offers a riveting, intimate look at the ethical and moral challenges sparked by the relationship between a foreign correspondent and a young Somali refugee. By revealing the boundaries of journalism and filmmaking, the film questions what stories are told, why, and who gets to tell them.
THE NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA and TVO PRESENT
A FREQUENT FLYER FILMS AND NFB CO-PRODUCTION
Written and Directed by
Michelle Shephard
Produced by
Bryn Hughes
Lea Marin
Michelle Shephard
Executive Producers
Bryn Hughes
Michelle Shephard
Executive Producer, NFB
Anita Lee
Executive Producer, TVO
Jane Jankovic
Independent Production Officer, TVO
Linda Fong
Featuring:
Ismael Abdulle
Sahal Abdulle
Co-Producer and Editor
Nick Hector, BFE CCE
Music Composed and performed by
Justin Small and Ohad Benchetrit
Featuring Esmaeel Abofakher and
Laura Bates on violin
Cinematographer
Wesley Legge
Associate Producers
Sahal Abdulle
Kate Vollum
Visual Researcher
Erin Chisholm
Additional Camera
Iris Ng
Christian Bielz
Steve Russell
2nd unit Camera
Dan Dougay
1st Assistant Camera
Dina Attalla
Sound Recordists
Chandra Bulucon
Dave Draper
Jim Ursulak
Additional Sound Recordists
Nathaniel Gustin
David Best
Brad Dawe
Dane Kelly
Mary Wong
Story Editor
Nick Hector
Post Production Supervisor
Edwin Janzen
Assistant Editor
Alysha Baker
Sound Editing by
SOUND DOGS TORONTO
Sound Supervisor
Nelson Ferreira
Sound Effects Editor
Jack Madigan
Recording Engineer
Spencer Clerk
Studio Assistant
Stefana Fratila
Post Production Facility
REDLAB
Account Manager
Mark Stevens
Head of Post Production
Carmelo Gallé
Sound Studio Manager
Steven Gurman
Project Manager
Jeff Hocken
Colourist
AJ McLauchlin
Re-recording Mixer
Eric Apps
Online Editor
Cory Johnson
DI Conform
Shawn Zacchigna
For the NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA:
Studio Operations Manager – Mark Wilson
Production Supervisor – Marcus Matyas
Senior Production Coordinator – Katie Murray
Technical Coordinator – Kevin Riley
Studio Administrators – Andrew Martin-Smith, Patricia Bourgeois
Marketing Manager – Melissa Wheeler, Jessica Gedge
Publicist – Jennifer Mair
Legal Counsel – Peter Kallianiotis
Stills Photography
Michelle Shephard
Graphics
Nick Sewell
Sasha Jordan Appler
Production Coordinator
Bryn Hughes
Production Accountant
Dania Kannan
Fixer – Nairobi, Kenya
Benta Ochieng, Viewfinders Kenya
Fixer – Mogadishu, Somalia
Bashir Osman, Peace Hotel
Transcription and Translation
Laurel Toews
Nuruddin Qorane
Astrid Larsen
Special Thanks
Adrienne Arsenault
Nahlah Ayed
Sherien Barsoum
Celena Bell
Lori Chodos
Hannah Donegan
Ilwad Elman
Geoff Ewart
Omar Faroq
Dr. Anthony Feinstein
Mohamed “Tennis” Gilao
Kathleen Goldhar
Abdirashid Hashi
John Haslett-Cuff
Nina Hellvik
The Hughes Family
Ahmed Hussein
Gwen Joy
Justine Keyserlingk
Christine Kleckner
Todd Light
Lynn McAuley
Kim Nelson
Iris Ng
Deqa Nur
Bashir Osman
Cornelia Principe
Jim Rankin
Randy Risling
Astrid Shau-Larsen
Ann Shin
Asha Siad
Roda Siad
Magali Simard
Jason Statten
Olwen Statten
Tanya Talaga
Sunny Yi
David York
Mahad Yousef
Berkeley Church
International Muslims Organization Toronto
Ishtar Restaurant
Staff and Security at Peace Hotel, Mogadishu
Toronto Star
Archival Footage
Aaron Y. Zelin/Jihadology.net
AP Archive
AP Photo
CBC Licensing
Douglas & McIntyre
F.I.L.M. Archives
From Toronto Star. © 2001, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014 Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.
Jim Ursulak
Journeyman Pictures Ltd.
Michelle Shephard/Toronto Star/Getty Images
Mustaqbal Media
NRK
Peter Power/Toronto Star/Getty Images
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
REUTERS/Mowliid Abdi
Screenocean/Reuters
What Took You So Long?
© 2012, Randy Risling/Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd.
Insurance
Lesya Kozoriz, Front Row Insurance Brokers
Legal
Sandra Richmond and Diana Cafazzo,
Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond
Produced with the participation of
THE CANADA MEDIA FUND,
ROGERS DOCUMENTARY FUND,
ROGERS TELEFUND,
ONTARIO CREATES
AND GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
© 2021 2727458 Ontario Inc. and The National Film Board of Canada