The only African contender in the running for this year’s Palme d’Or, at the Cannes Film Festival, Chadian director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, is hoping his film latest work, Grigris, will impress international audiences and help fly the flag for African, if not Chadian cinema.
Interesting that he shares his initial idea for the film was as a film noir/crime drama, but decided against it, and instead settled for more of a social drama. We haven’t seen the film yet (we weren’t at Cannes this year), but reviews I’ve read suggest it’s a neo-realist film.
However, a Mahamat-Saleh Haroun work of film noir is something I’d be very interested in seeing.
Grisgris, which received mixed reviews after its Cannes premiere, centers on Grisgris, a 25 year old young man with dreams of becoming a dancer despite the fact that he’s paralyzed from the waist down. His dreams are shattered when his uncle falls seriously ill. To save him, he decides to go work for petrol traffickers.
The film stars Soulémane Démé, Mariam Monory, Cyril Guei, Anaïs Monory and Marius Yelolo (who’s worked with Haroun on at least 2 other past films).
Grisgris is produced by Florence Stern for Pili Films, with Chad’s Goï Goï Productions and Frances 3 Cinéma.
No USA pickup yet, but the film already has a France theatrical release date set for August 28, 2013.
Watch the short interview below:
