Night of the Kings

classified 15 S
Film

Please note: This was screened in July 2021

Director
Philippe Lacôte
Cast
Bakary Koné, Jean Cyrille Digbeu, Steve Tientcheu
Details
93 mins, Subtitled, France Côte d'Ivoire Canada Senegal
Primary language
French

This outstanding drama is a vibrant and atmospheric modern day riff on the legend of Sheherazade set within the confines of the Ivory Coast’s largest prison.

When a young man (Koné Bakary) is sent to La Maca, he finds himself entering a dangerous, complex world, a prison in the middle of the forest ruled by its inmates. As tradition goes, with the rising of the red moon he is challenged by the Boss to tell a story to the other prisoners if he wants to keep his life and stop the prison from falling into chaos. Uncertain what grim fate awaits if he fails to keep them entertained, he begins to tell the tale of a legendary outlaw, knowing he has no choice but to make the story last until dawn…

A mesmerising meditation on the art of storytelling and its role in survival, this is a thrillingly unique tale of myth and ritual - watch out for the incredible appearance by Beau Travail’s Denis Levant as an eccentric inmate.


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