For the first time in the history of the Cannes Film Festival, in 2019, a film directed by a black woman was featured in the festival's main competition. It was Atlantics (Atlantique) directed by Mati Diop, a story of cold dark water.
Ten years ago, the French-Senegalese director made a short film of the same name. In the feature film, the idea has transformed and evolved successfully. Mati Diop ended up winning the 72nd Cannes Film Festival's Grand Prize of the Jury.
The first thing we see in Atlantics (Atlantique) is the land of dirt, dust and sand. The whole city of Dakar acquires an orange hue. The air itself is of a bold bright yellow color that dries up everything around. It seems that as soon as you breathe in the thick air will waft directly into the cinema hall penetrating the screen.
It is not just a special effect that reminds us of the Mad Max film. It is what the 'undistorted reality' is like.
Mati Diop depicts Africa avoiding the extremes. There are no stunning landscapes of the pristine nature or, on the contrary, 'semitransparent' people who are blown down by the gust of the wind. The director puts emphasis on everyday life which gradually turns into something apparently supernatural.
Ada and Souleiman, a happy couple, are the main characters of the film. Their love is quiet, it looks as if they are afraid to show their passion trying to hide it from other people's eyes. Indeed, the feelings have to be concealed as Ada prepares for the wedding with another man. Only 10 days are left to the wedding ceremony, so Ada jumps at the chance to love Souleiman hic et nunc.
Such an act of rebellion is unacceptable to the Senegalese society which is shown in the film as superstitious, somewhat archaic and closed. Ada's parents arrange her marriage thinking about profit and stability but failing to take into account mutual love and affection.
Having encountered difficulties on the way, the girl seeks support of her parents, but the only thing she finds is condemnation. The truth is that parents have never known the world of their children; yet, they cannot be blamed for this. They were brought up in different times and want to raise their daughter following the traditions they are familiar with.
Ada is taught how to behave with her husband - how to be sweet, how to please him. However, the given role is extremely difficult to play. She is indifferent to gifts and displays of affection. The young lady can endure marriage without love, but what she cannot come to terms with is the loss of her lover.
Souleiman works hard at the grand Atlantics skyscraper building site. He has not been paid for several months. It has made the young man look for opportunities somewhere else, on the other side of the ocean. As a result, he has to leave Ada.
Souleiman comes to his beloved one only at night. Either in a dream or in reality.
In the afternoons his voice drowns in the noise of other people's lives being suppressed by their consciousness, but at night he may approach a girl who he simply cannot live without.
It is at night that he comes to his abusers appealing to their conscience. He wants everybody to get a taste of their own medicine, he wants them to be honest with others as well as with themselves so that the past will not bother them from beyond.
Despite being mystical and mysterious, the film Atlantics (Atlantique) brings you hope. No matter what, the glimmer of hope is still kept alive in the hearts of deprived people. Ada does not give up hope to see her beloved one again. The young men who work really hard are eager to find a better life. People do not abandon the hope that things will get better.
Hope evokes the feeling that nothing is impossible and such feelings are sure to pass through space and time.
Ten years ago, the French-Senegalese director made a short film of the same name. In the feature film, the idea has transformed and evolved successfully. Mati Diop ended up winning the 72nd Cannes Film Festival's Grand Prize of the Jury.
The first thing we see in Atlantics (Atlantique) is the land of dirt, dust and sand. The whole city of Dakar acquires an orange hue. The air itself is of a bold bright yellow color that dries up everything around. It seems that as soon as you breathe in the thick air will waft directly into the cinema hall penetrating the screen.
It is not just a special effect that reminds us of the Mad Max film. It is what the 'undistorted reality' is like.
Mati Diop depicts Africa avoiding the extremes. There are no stunning landscapes of the pristine nature or, on the contrary, 'semitransparent' people who are blown down by the gust of the wind. The director puts emphasis on everyday life which gradually turns into something apparently supernatural.
Ada and Souleiman, a happy couple, are the main characters of the film. Their love is quiet, it looks as if they are afraid to show their passion trying to hide it from other people's eyes. Indeed, the feelings have to be concealed as Ada prepares for the wedding with another man. Only 10 days are left to the wedding ceremony, so Ada jumps at the chance to love Souleiman hic et nunc.
Such an act of rebellion is unacceptable to the Senegalese society which is shown in the film as superstitious, somewhat archaic and closed. Ada's parents arrange her marriage thinking about profit and stability but failing to take into account mutual love and affection.
Having encountered difficulties on the way, the girl seeks support of her parents, but the only thing she finds is condemnation. The truth is that parents have never known the world of their children; yet, they cannot be blamed for this. They were brought up in different times and want to raise their daughter following the traditions they are familiar with.
Ada is taught how to behave with her husband - how to be sweet, how to please him. However, the given role is extremely difficult to play. She is indifferent to gifts and displays of affection. The young lady can endure marriage without love, but what she cannot come to terms with is the loss of her lover.
Souleiman works hard at the grand Atlantics skyscraper building site. He has not been paid for several months. It has made the young man look for opportunities somewhere else, on the other side of the ocean. As a result, he has to leave Ada.
Souleiman comes to his beloved one only at night. Either in a dream or in reality.
In the afternoons his voice drowns in the noise of other people's lives being suppressed by their consciousness, but at night he may approach a girl who he simply cannot live without.
It is at night that he comes to his abusers appealing to their conscience. He wants everybody to get a taste of their own medicine, he wants them to be honest with others as well as with themselves so that the past will not bother them from beyond.
Despite being mystical and mysterious, the film Atlantics (Atlantique) brings you hope. No matter what, the glimmer of hope is still kept alive in the hearts of deprived people. Ada does not give up hope to see her beloved one again. The young men who work really hard are eager to find a better life. People do not abandon the hope that things will get better.
Hope evokes the feeling that nothing is impossible and such feelings are sure to pass through space and time.