Grigris

Credits

Name: Grigris

Country: Tschad

Year of publication: 2013

Format: DCP

Color: color

Language : OF m. engl. UT

Duration: 101 Minuten

Direction: Haroun, Mahamat-Saleh

Screenplay: Haroun, Mahamat-Saleh

Camera: Héberlé, Antoine

Editing: Dozo, Marie-Hélène

Actor: Démé, Souleymane; Monory, Anaïs; Guei, Cyril; Yelolo, Marius

Abstract

At night, Souleymane, whose handicap makes walking difficult, transforms in N`Djamena’s discotheques into the acclaimed dancer GRIGRIS, who impresses people with his moves. There he also meets Mimi, a beautiful prostitute with whom he falls in love. When his stepfather becomes seriously ill, Souleymane desperately needs money, and he joins up with a gang of petrol smugglers. But soon, he goes from being a thief to being hunted.

Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, one of the most successful directors from Africa, found the inspiration for his fifth feature film in the Chadian capital: “In N`Djamena, there are constantly car chases between border police and smugglers, and I wanted to make a crime film without falling into the usual clichés.” He discovered his main actor, the dancer Souleymane Démé, at a club in Ouagadougou while visiting the FESPACO 2011 film festival there. “When I saw him onstage, I knew immediately: that’s the hero of my film.”

GRIGRIS was the only African contribution amongst the official competition at the Cannes International Film Festival 2013.

  Trailer