Heremakono (2002)

Director:

Abderrahmane Sissako

Writer:

Abderrahmane Sissako (writer)

Release Date:

15 January 2003 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Plot:

The story of two people who cross paths in Nouhadhibou.

Plot Keywords:

Ship | Sand | Dune | Singing | Death

Awards:

8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Khatra Ould Abder Kader	...	Khatra
Maata Ould Mohamed Abeid	...	Maata
Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed	...	Abdallah
Nana Diakité	...	Nana
Fatimetou Mint Ahmeda	...	Soukeyna, the mother
Makanfing Dabo	...	Makan
Santha Leng	...	Tchu

Also Known As:

En attendant le bonheur (France)
Waiting for Happiness (International: English title)

Runtime:

Argentina:95 min | France:90 min | France:96 min (Cannes Film Festival)

Country:

France | Mauritania

Language:

French | Hassanya | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | France:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Nouadhibou, Mauritania

Company:

Duo Films

this is literally an odyssey of images

While this may sound totally implausible to most, the film this most resembled, for me, was Claire Denis's recent release FRIDAY NIGHT (VENDREDI SOIR), a French-European film with little or no dialogue, but it is an impressionistic mosaic which the viewer can follow. Here, in a French-Mauritanian film that, culturally, more closely resembles an Iranian film, like THE DAY I BECAME A WOMAN, it is literally an odyssey of images, with little to no narrative, only the images tell the story, and it ends up being an exhilarating experience, suitable for nearly all ages, that is a rare treat "outside" experimental film. This is one of the most tender, gentlest films I've ever seen, which relies in large degree, on the Malian West African music by Oumou Sangare which is featured prominently throughout, particularly at the finale which I found excruciatingly beautiful. A rare treat.