Banel & Adama
Description
The titular Senegalese couple at the center of this visually ravishing romantic drama faces several challenges — Adama is in line to be chief but doesn’t want the responsibility while Banel insists they not have children, especially in light of the economic hardships brought about by drought. Tired of being relegated to female-designated roles, Banel would rather relocate outside the village where sandstorms have buried several houses but where she and Adama will be removed from the daily life that hems them in. Though deeply in love and prepared to realize his beloved’s wishes, Adama is more pragmatic and concerned about their livelihoods and familial responsibilities. Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s poetic debut, which competed at Cannes, tells a fable-like story imbued with dreamlike imagery and palpable chemistry between the two young lovers at its heart.
After studying cinema at La Fémis in Paris, French Senegalese filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy began her career as a screenwriter, contributing to scripts for Sibele (2018) and Our Lady of the Nile (2019). She made her directing debut with Astele (2021), a short film that won the Share Her Journey award at the Toronto International Film Festival and two prizes at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. Banel & Adama is her first feature.
Trailer
Film Details
Language Pular
Original Language Title Banel e Adama
Year 2023
Premiere California
Runtime 87
Country Senegal/France/Mali/Qatar
Director Ramata-Toulaye Sy
Producer Margaux Juvénal, Maud Leclair-Névé, Éric Névé
Writer Ramata-Toulaye Sy
Editor Vincent Tricon
Cinematographer Amine Berrada
Print Source Kino Lorber
Closed Captions Closed Captions are not yet confirmed for this program
Audio Description Audio Descriptions are not yet confirmed for this program
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation American Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this film
