Grigris, Chad’s Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S.: Film Movement. International Sales Agent: Les Films du Losange
Tackling cynicism with a strike of sheer hopefulness Mahamat-Saleh Haroun opens his film about the struggles of a handicapped Chadian man with a dance number that sets the tone for a film that never sees the conditions of its characters with pity, but with a their forceful wills to survive. Grigris begins on the dance floor with the title character being the main attraction at a modem night club, clearly not the first image the West associates with Sub-Saharan Africa. From that moment on the film develops into a kind of testament to all those in the world who wonder how they’ll make it through the day, and still manage to do so working for a better tomorrow no matter how bleak their situation appears.
Grigris (played by Soulémane Démé) glides to the music gracefully using his unfit leg as an asset to his passionate performance and sporting a contagious smile showing an undeterred joy to live. Trying to make ends meet, he helps his uncle (Marius Yelolo) run his rudimentary but functional photo studio when he is not collecting tips from his devoted fans. Although, hardworking and gifted in the performing arts, he is just like any young man his age and is entranced by the stunning beauty of foxy local girl Mimi (Anais Monroy). She walks into his studio in need of some photos for a modeling contest, to which, evidently, Grigris complies. Her exuberant figure and enigmatic personality go hand in hand with her 70’s black actress-inspired wig, a combination that is not only irresistible for the protagonist, but for the local men who pay for her services. Yet, Grigris seems not to mind it, he sees beyond her outer shell and doesn’t judge the circumstances that have led her to live such life.
Regardless of his remarkable popularity, Grigris is a man with few friends, and when his uncle falls ill, he must resort to the closest "friend" that he has, Moussa (Cyril Guei) a local petrol smuggler who is willing to give him a job. Lying to Moussa about his swimming abilities, he gets the job but fails miserably because he cannot swim. Failure, however, is not an option when his family depends on him. In desperation he tricks the mobsters to get enough cash to help his deteriorating uncle and skips town with his now-girlfriend, Mimi. At this point, Haroun’s artistry as a storyteller really becomes noticeable. Instead of simply tying all the loose ends together quickly by having the couple ride happily into the sunset, he takes the story into a new direction that highlights women’s empowerment in a traditionally male-centered society.
Mimi and Grigris escape to an all women community. Besides becoming their protective army, the community opens the way for them to come to terms with their past and make plans for the future. That is what the Chadian auteur aims to convey, a beautiful story of people in transition. Grigris is unaffected by his paralyzed leg, it is merely a characteristic, never a defining factor in what he is capable of doing. As a performer he commands the crowd's attention, and as a human being he is relentless against adversity. Such sheer determination to overcome obstacles is parallel to the struggles of African cinema, a continent sadly underrepresented in the medium, which Haroun clearly spearheads.
Soulémane Démé, a non-actor, exudes an almost- infantile eagerness to be surprised and to be freed from obvious financial disadvantages by means of his physical exertions which lead to his liberation. His performance and that of Monroy, who becomes transformed from a disguised but calculative sexual worker into a vulnerable loving woman, speak volumes of the director’s skill, and his preference of bringing out raw performances from everyday people. What Mahamat-Saleh Haroun generously shares with the audience is a portrayal of an individual whose optimism is more grounded than his impoverished situation. Not only is he striving to help his family but he is given a purpose and a passion beyond mere survival, an assertive decision from the writer/director who certainly knows how to craft a compelling story about connections and human transformation rather than about any particular national problematic situation.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
Tackling cynicism with a strike of sheer hopefulness Mahamat-Saleh Haroun opens his film about the struggles of a handicapped Chadian man with a dance number that sets the tone for a film that never sees the conditions of its characters with pity, but with a their forceful wills to survive. Grigris begins on the dance floor with the title character being the main attraction at a modem night club, clearly not the first image the West associates with Sub-Saharan Africa. From that moment on the film develops into a kind of testament to all those in the world who wonder how they’ll make it through the day, and still manage to do so working for a better tomorrow no matter how bleak their situation appears.
Grigris (played by Soulémane Démé) glides to the music gracefully using his unfit leg as an asset to his passionate performance and sporting a contagious smile showing an undeterred joy to live. Trying to make ends meet, he helps his uncle (Marius Yelolo) run his rudimentary but functional photo studio when he is not collecting tips from his devoted fans. Although, hardworking and gifted in the performing arts, he is just like any young man his age and is entranced by the stunning beauty of foxy local girl Mimi (Anais Monroy). She walks into his studio in need of some photos for a modeling contest, to which, evidently, Grigris complies. Her exuberant figure and enigmatic personality go hand in hand with her 70’s black actress-inspired wig, a combination that is not only irresistible for the protagonist, but for the local men who pay for her services. Yet, Grigris seems not to mind it, he sees beyond her outer shell and doesn’t judge the circumstances that have led her to live such life.
Regardless of his remarkable popularity, Grigris is a man with few friends, and when his uncle falls ill, he must resort to the closest "friend" that he has, Moussa (Cyril Guei) a local petrol smuggler who is willing to give him a job. Lying to Moussa about his swimming abilities, he gets the job but fails miserably because he cannot swim. Failure, however, is not an option when his family depends on him. In desperation he tricks the mobsters to get enough cash to help his deteriorating uncle and skips town with his now-girlfriend, Mimi. At this point, Haroun’s artistry as a storyteller really becomes noticeable. Instead of simply tying all the loose ends together quickly by having the couple ride happily into the sunset, he takes the story into a new direction that highlights women’s empowerment in a traditionally male-centered society.
Mimi and Grigris escape to an all women community. Besides becoming their protective army, the community opens the way for them to come to terms with their past and make plans for the future. That is what the Chadian auteur aims to convey, a beautiful story of people in transition. Grigris is unaffected by his paralyzed leg, it is merely a characteristic, never a defining factor in what he is capable of doing. As a performer he commands the crowd's attention, and as a human being he is relentless against adversity. Such sheer determination to overcome obstacles is parallel to the struggles of African cinema, a continent sadly underrepresented in the medium, which Haroun clearly spearheads.
Soulémane Démé, a non-actor, exudes an almost- infantile eagerness to be surprised and to be freed from obvious financial disadvantages by means of his physical exertions which lead to his liberation. His performance and that of Monroy, who becomes transformed from a disguised but calculative sexual worker into a vulnerable loving woman, speak volumes of the director’s skill, and his preference of bringing out raw performances from everyday people. What Mahamat-Saleh Haroun generously shares with the audience is a portrayal of an individual whose optimism is more grounded than his impoverished situation. Not only is he striving to help his family but he is given a purpose and a passion beyond mere survival, an assertive decision from the writer/director who certainly knows how to craft a compelling story about connections and human transformation rather than about any particular national problematic situation.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
- 10/24/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
There have been few films quite as moving and poignant as A Screaming Man in recent years, giving Chadian auteur Mahamat-Saleh Haroun something of an onerous task to better what came before. However his latest picture Grigris is a more than worthy attempt, and although not quite of the same, exceptionally high-standard, it’s his second consecutive feature to be nominated for the Palme d’Or – and rightly so.
Grigris (Souleymane Démé) is a twenty something with dreams of one day becoming a dancer. Blessed with a unique ability for performance arts, the popular Grigris knows he faces an uphill battle to fulfil his cherished aspiration, as he has a paralysed left leg. When his uncle (Marius Yelolo) falls critically ill, he has to put his dancing on the back burner for a while, and when needing to raise some money to cover the hospital bills, he becomes dangerously embroiled in petrol trafficking,...
Grigris (Souleymane Démé) is a twenty something with dreams of one day becoming a dancer. Blessed with a unique ability for performance arts, the popular Grigris knows he faces an uphill battle to fulfil his cherished aspiration, as he has a paralysed left leg. When his uncle (Marius Yelolo) falls critically ill, he has to put his dancing on the back burner for a while, and when needing to raise some money to cover the hospital bills, he becomes dangerously embroiled in petrol trafficking,...
- 10/18/2013
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
★★★☆☆ Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's latest feature, Grigris (2013), recounts a tale of hope against despair in the director's native country of Chad. It tells the story of the titular Grigris (played by Souleymane Deme), a young man whose ambition is to be a dancer despite having a paralysed leg. He's a generous and positive young man who helps out his uncle (Marius Yelolo), is a budding photographer and prays when his mother pesters him into doing so. However, his real passion is for dance. At the local disco he's something of a sensation, strutting his stuff and earning some money by passing a hat around afterwards.
Things seem to be looking up when Mimi (Anaïs Monory), a beautiful local girl, comes by to have some modelling shots taken. Grigris is clearly smitten. However, his Uncle Ajoub suddenly falls ill and the hospital bills mount to impossible levels. Desperate for a solution, Grigris...
Things seem to be looking up when Mimi (Anaïs Monory), a beautiful local girl, comes by to have some modelling shots taken. Grigris is clearly smitten. However, his Uncle Ajoub suddenly falls ill and the hospital bills mount to impossible levels. Desperate for a solution, Grigris...
- 10/14/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
In July, Film Movement picked up North American rights to Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's 2013 Cannes Competition entry Grigris, where it won the Vulcan Award for technical achievement. The film, which received mixed reviews after its Cannes premiere, centers on Grisgris, a 25 year old young man with dreams of becoming a dancer despite his physical disability 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. It stars Soulémane Démé, Mariam Monory, Cyril Guei, Anaïs Monory and Marius Yelolo (who's worked with Haroun on at least 2 other past...
- 10/7/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Film Movement picked up North American rights to Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's 2013 Cannes Competition entry Grigris, where it won the Vulcan Award for technical achievement. The film, 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. It stars Soulémane Démé, Mariam Monory, Cyril Guei, Anaïs Monory and Marius Yelolo (who's worked with Haroun on at least 2 other past...
- 7/8/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Film Movement has picked up North American rights to Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's 2013 Cannes Competition entry Grigris, where it won the Vulcan Award for technical achievement. The film, 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. It stars Soulémane Démé, Mariam Monory, Cyril Guei, Anaïs Monory and Marius Yelolo (who's worked with Haroun on at least 2 other past...
- 7/2/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Congratulations UK readers! UK distributor New Wave Films has picked up rights to Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's 2013 Cannes Competition entry Grigris. The film, 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. It 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...
- 5/31/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
#11. Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s Grisgris
Gist: It will tell the story of a 25-year-old man with a paralyzed leg who dreams of becoming a dancer, and starts to work for a gang of petrol smugglers. Starring Soulémane Démé, Mariam Monory, Cyril Guei and Marius Yelolo.
Prediction: Having shown 2002′s Our Father (Directors’ Fortnight) or the 2010 Jury Prize winning A Screaming Man, on the odd years where the filmmaker doesn’t show up on the Croisette, he ends up on the Lido – this won’t be the case for his latest. Set for an August release in France, a long lead world premiere is definitely in the cards. This is a Main Comp entry folks.
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Gist: It will tell the story of a 25-year-old man with a paralyzed leg who dreams of becoming a dancer, and starts to work for a gang of petrol smugglers. Starring Soulémane Démé, Mariam Monory, Cyril Guei and Marius Yelolo.
Prediction: Having shown 2002′s Our Father (Directors’ Fortnight) or the 2010 Jury Prize winning A Screaming Man, on the odd years where the filmmaker doesn’t show up on the Croisette, he ends up on the Lido – this won’t be the case for his latest. Set for an August release in France, a long lead world premiere is definitely in the cards. This is a Main Comp entry folks.
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- 4/14/2013
- by Moen Mohamed
- IONCINEMA.com
Director: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun Writer: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun Starring: Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma, Emile Abossolo M’bo, Hadje Fatime N’Goua, Marius Yelolo Upon reflection, water is the most important element in Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s A Screaming Man. Adam (Youssouf Djaoro), a 60-year old former swimming champion, and his son Abdel (Diouc Koma) work as pool attendants at a N’Djamena hotel. Haroun’s film [...]...
- 8/2/2011
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Reviewed by Annlee Ellingson
(from the 2010 AFI Fest)
Directed/Written by: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Starring: Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma, Emil Abossolo M’Bo, Hadjé Fatimé N’Goua, Marius Yelolo and Djénéba Koné
Writer-director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun draws on his own survival of the perpetual civil war in his native Chad for this Cannes Jury Prize winner. In it, rebel activity flows and ebbs like the tide. Meanwhile, everyday life goes on.
For former swimming champion Adam (Youssouf Djaoro), everyday life is managing the pool at an upscale hotel with his 20-year-old son Abdel (Diouc Koma). When the resort is privatized, the new Chinese owners streamline the operation by laying off some of Adam’s closest friends and downsizing the pool staff.
Adam is reassigned to the front gate and a sweaty uniform whose sleeves and pant legs are too short for his long, once-athletic limbs. Cars honk at him incessantly to manually raise the gate arms.
(from the 2010 AFI Fest)
Directed/Written by: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Starring: Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma, Emil Abossolo M’Bo, Hadjé Fatimé N’Goua, Marius Yelolo and Djénéba Koné
Writer-director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun draws on his own survival of the perpetual civil war in his native Chad for this Cannes Jury Prize winner. In it, rebel activity flows and ebbs like the tide. Meanwhile, everyday life goes on.
For former swimming champion Adam (Youssouf Djaoro), everyday life is managing the pool at an upscale hotel with his 20-year-old son Abdel (Diouc Koma). When the resort is privatized, the new Chinese owners streamline the operation by laying off some of Adam’s closest friends and downsizing the pool staff.
Adam is reassigned to the front gate and a sweaty uniform whose sleeves and pant legs are too short for his long, once-athletic limbs. Cars honk at him incessantly to manually raise the gate arms.
- 4/11/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Reviewed by Annlee Ellingson
(from the 2010 AFI Fest)
Directed/Written by: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Starring: Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma, Emil Abossolo M’Bo, Hadjé Fatimé N’Goua, Marius Yelolo and Djénéba Koné
Writer-director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun draws on his own survival of the perpetual civil war in his native Chad for this Cannes Jury Prize winner. In it, rebel activity flows and ebbs like the tide. Meanwhile, everyday life goes on.
For former swimming champion Adam (Youssouf Djaoro), everyday life is managing the pool at an upscale hotel with his 20-year-old son Abdel (Diouc Koma). When the resort is privatized, the new Chinese owners streamline the operation by laying off some of Adam’s closest friends and downsizing the pool staff.
Adam is reassigned to the front gate and a sweaty uniform whose sleeves and pant legs are too short for his long, once-athletic limbs. Cars honk at him incessantly to manually raise the gate arms.
(from the 2010 AFI Fest)
Directed/Written by: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Starring: Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma, Emil Abossolo M’Bo, Hadjé Fatimé N’Goua, Marius Yelolo and Djénéba Koné
Writer-director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun draws on his own survival of the perpetual civil war in his native Chad for this Cannes Jury Prize winner. In it, rebel activity flows and ebbs like the tide. Meanwhile, everyday life goes on.
For former swimming champion Adam (Youssouf Djaoro), everyday life is managing the pool at an upscale hotel with his 20-year-old son Abdel (Diouc Koma). When the resort is privatized, the new Chinese owners streamline the operation by laying off some of Adam’s closest friends and downsizing the pool staff.
Adam is reassigned to the front gate and a sweaty uniform whose sleeves and pant legs are too short for his long, once-athletic limbs. Cars honk at him incessantly to manually raise the gate arms.
- 4/11/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Ok, so Sergio already wrote a reveiw of this film last week but, given that I saw it a few days later and that it screens at this year’s London Film Festival, which starts next week… and that I loved it… Well, I figured it was worth mentioning again this week.
As you’re probably aware if you were anywhere near this site earlier in the year, Mahamet Saleh Haroun’s Un Homme Qui Crie (A Screaming Man) won the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival in May. The third in what could be said to be a trilogy of father-son themed films following Abouna (2002) and Daratt (2006), A Screaming Man is once again set in modern day Chad and, like Daratt, is set against the backdrop of war.
However, as is usual with Haroun’s films, loud, physical and external conflict is absent from the screen and attention placed,...
As you’re probably aware if you were anywhere near this site earlier in the year, Mahamet Saleh Haroun’s Un Homme Qui Crie (A Screaming Man) won the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival in May. The third in what could be said to be a trilogy of father-son themed films following Abouna (2002) and Daratt (2006), A Screaming Man is once again set in modern day Chad and, like Daratt, is set against the backdrop of war.
However, as is usual with Haroun’s films, loud, physical and external conflict is absent from the screen and attention placed,...
- 10/9/2010
- by MsWOO
- ShadowAndAct
A Screaming Man is a quote from the poetry collection Return to My Native Land by Aime Cesaire, but it’s also a title of an upcoming French war drama film directed by Mahamat Saleh Haroun, and movie scheduled to compete for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2010.
The whole story is set during turbulent times in Chad, so no wonder they already describe it as “a kind of history handed down from father to son… and from generation to generation”…
Here’s A Screaming Man synopsis: “Present-day Chad. Adam, sixty something, a former swimming champion, is pool attendant at a smart N’Djamena hotel. When the hotel gets taken over by new Chinese owners, he is forced to give up his job to his son Abdel. Terribly resentful, he feels socially humiliated.
The country is in the throes of a civil war. Rebel forces are attacking the government.
The whole story is set during turbulent times in Chad, so no wonder they already describe it as “a kind of history handed down from father to son… and from generation to generation”…
Here’s A Screaming Man synopsis: “Present-day Chad. Adam, sixty something, a former swimming champion, is pool attendant at a smart N’Djamena hotel. When the hotel gets taken over by new Chinese owners, he is forced to give up his job to his son Abdel. Terribly resentful, he feels socially humiliated.
The country is in the throes of a civil war. Rebel forces are attacking the government.
- 5/20/2010
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
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