From April 20th to 30th, the metropolis will vibrate to the rhythm of the Vues d’Afrique festival, when the 39th edition promises many discoveries again.
Among all the proposals, here are the five must-see films during this international event, with Halimatou Gadji as godmother and Stanley February as godfather.
“A daughter’s homage to her father” by Fatou Cissé (Mali)
International Selection – Documentary
In this film, which is being premiered in Canada, Fatou Cissé draws a “low key portrait of poetic and touching cinema about one of the legends of African cinema”, the 82-year-old Malian director Souleymane Cissé. The latter, who arrived in Montreal on Wednesday, will receive the Carrosse d’Or award during the opening ceremony of the Quinzaine des Cinéastes on May 17th in Cannes.
“The Messenger of God” by Amina Mamani (Algeria-Niger)
International selection – short and medium-length fiction
Fatima, a 12-year-old suicide bomber chosen at random, must “kill the enemies of God” with the explosive belt she wears. We just dropped her off at a village market…
“Song of the Living” by Cécile Allegra (France)
International selection – short and medium-length fiction
Young people from Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo who have made the long journey into exile land in Conques in the heart of Aveyron, France. The Limbo Club welcomes her to catch her breath and shape a shared experience.
“Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the conqueror of Napoleon Bonaparte” by Arnold Antonin (Haiti)
International Selection – Documentary
This film focuses on Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who was assassinated two years after Haiti declared independence. As the main founder of the Pearl of the Antilles, he is now a mythical figure that we relate to willy-nilly. Through this exercise, director Arnold Antonin wishes “open[ir] a debate on the crises in Haiti and the colonial legacy”.
“Ashkal” by Youssef Chebbi (Tunisia)
International Selection – Feature Films
The charred body of a security guard is found in a new part of Carthage where modern buildings meet abandoned construction sites and wasteland. A police officer in his 50s is leading the investigation with the help of his niece Fatma. They question workers from other construction sites and make amazing discoveries.