BENIN, FRANCE, SENEGAL

2024 – DCP – colore – 68’

Direction: Mati Diop
Sceneggiatura: Mati Diop
Cinematography: Joséphine Drouin Viallard
Editing: Gabriel Gonzalez
Sound: Corneille Houssou, Nicolas Becker, Cyril Holtz
Music: Dean Blunt, Wally Badarou
Artistic Contributions: studenti dell’università di students from the University of Abomey-Calavi: Gildas Adannou, Josea Guedje, Gaël Sankara Daavo, Habib Ahandessi, Rose Ouemeho, Maryline Agbossi, Raïmi Bassitou Nouatin, Didier Sedoha Nassangade, Imelda Batamoussi, Joël Tchogbe, Diane Cakpo, Chamelie Dognon, Morias Agbessi, Gilbert Godovo, Yvon Kossou-Yovo, Donald Gbossa, Edah Gontran, Messi Boco, Odilon Gbenontin, Kevin Da-Silva; i curatori e i responsabili espositivi the team of curators and exhibition managers: Calixte Biah, Abdoulaye Imorou, Paul Timothee Doto, Jules Bocco, Richard J. V. Sogan, Didier Donatien Alihonou; curatore exhibition curator: Alain Godonou; voci voices: Lucrece Houegbelo, Parfait Viayinon, Didier Sedoha Nassegande e and Sabine Badjogoumin con with Dowoti Desir
Producers: Eve Robin, Judith Lou Levy, Mati Diop
Production: Les Films Du Bal, Fanta Sy coprodotto con coproduced with Arte France Cinéma
World Sales: Les Films du Losange

Synopsis

November, 2021. Twenty-six royal treasures of the Kingdom of Dahomey are about to leave Paris to return to their country of origin, the present-day Republic of Benin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were plundered by French colonial troops in 1892. But what attitude to adopt to these ancestors’ homecoming in a country that had to forge ahead in their absence? While the soul of the artifacts is freed, debate rages among students of the University of Abomey-Calavi.

Director’s statement

“Dahomey is a “fantasy documentary”. If people come out wondering what it is that they just saw, having had a unique experience (while feeling some kind of emotion, of course), then I feel I have contributed to making cinema more surprising and innovative. That’s also what I expect from a film, wherever it is from. In documentaries, the writing is first and foremost a point of view, on people or on a situation. Writing begins with the film language that translates (or betrays) your relationship to the world, to other people and to yourself. In the end, when you’re watching a movie, whether documentary or fiction, the only question is whether cinema happens or not.”

Main awards and festivals

2024 Berlinale – Competition: Orso d’Oro Golden Bear
2024 Toronto IFF – Special Presentations
2024 San Sebastián IFF – Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Competition
2024 ZagrebDox: Movies That Matter Award