Main Cast
Midori Mori-Flomer is originally from Japan. Midori has lived in the Longfellow neighborhood for the past 27 years. Trained as a visual artist, she has been the main chef and co-owner of the Midori’s Floating World Cafe on Lake Street since 2003.
John Flomer moved from Brooklyn, New York to the Iron Range in Minnesota at a young age. He has lived in the Longfellow neighborhood for the past 27 years. John is a musician and visual artist and the co-owner of Midori’s Floating World Cafe from its inception.
Ruhel Islam came from Bangladesh to Minnesota in the 90s and opened the Gandhi Mahal restaurant in 2008 on Lake Street. His restaurant was destroyed by rioters in 2020. Despite this devastating loss, Ruhel is still committed to his neighborhood and working on building the Center for Peace and Justice on the grounds of his former restaurant. The project is a multi-story mixed-use building.
Contributing Cast
MFWC’s Design Team
Kris Kiel/Holos Creative
Hibo Abdi/Redesign Inc. (2021)
Brigid Higgins /Redesign Inc (2021)
Crew
Mercutio Mori (Midori’s son) is a tea expert and studies fashion design at St. Catherine University.
Jila Nikpay/Producer/Director
Jila Nikpay/Cinematographer
Jila Nikpay/Editor
Jila Nikpay explores the theme of displacement and cultural memory in her work through fiction, documentary, and experimental genres. Her work has received multiple awards from the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota States Arts Board, and the Mcknight Foundation.
Jila Nikpay’s films include Fragments of Freedom (2024), Objects of Love (2020), Soliloquy (2019), Dreaming with Lola (2016), Happy Republic (2015), Divided (2014), Ways of Becoming (2013), Hour of the Dark (2011), In Waiting (2008), Labyrinth (2007), Rhythm of Tides (2007), Keepers of the Garden (2004), Shroud and Torrent (2003). The films have been screened at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, the Walker Art Center, Austin Asian American Film Festival, Tehran’s House of Artists, broadcast on the Twin Cities Public Television and ShortsTV’s North American programming.
Michael Terati / Sound Recordist
Michael Terati is a percussionist and location sound recordist. He has worked on numerous award-winning short narratives and documentaries. Michael has performed as a percussionist with classical, jazz , and fusion ensembles, incorporating both traditional and contemporary instrumentation.