Mati Diop’s Cannes prize-winning debut offers an abundantly inventive and life-affirming take on a commonplace tragedy (the death of a group of migrants, at sea).
The French-African director practically invents a new genre – Senegalese gothic – and does it with such insouciance that all you can do is rub your eyes. It’s so beautiful.
A fire breaks out, judgemental women are transformed into languorous zombies, a crooked boss is threatened and a young cop faints when comely Ada (Mama Sane) is married off to rich kid. She was secretly in love with construction worker, Souleiman (Ibrahima Traore), who only left for Spain because his firm refused to hand over his wages.
We’re in a landscape where economic injustice is taken for granted. The sea sparkles, women drape themselves near mirrors and energy is recycled to jubilant effect.
Sane doesn’t always convince, but the rest of the cast are a revelation and Diop (a former actress, who was excellent in Claire Denis’ 35 Shots of Rum) was right to give up her day job.
Her talent, as a director, is out of this world.
