mt-title

A young man is sent to "La Maca", a prison in the middle of the Ivorian forest ruled by its inmates. As tradition goes with the rising of the red moon, he is designated by the Boss to be the new "Roman" and must tell a story to the other prisoners. Learning what fate awaits him, he begins to narrate the mystical life of the legendary outlaw named “Zama King” and has no choice but to make his story last until dawn. The movie mixes storytelling and fairy tale elements with a vividly drawn backdrop of heightened realism. The images, often in darkly saturated blues and browns, stand in stark contrast to the staged, Shakespearean scenes of the stories. "A powerful and atmospheric film experience that deftly balances something fabulous with reality. Particularly compelling is the way the tension of storytelling is used as a tool for survival." (Sooner curator Jacqueline May) NIGHT OF THE KINGS is "a storyteller’s delight" (The Hollywood Reporter) and a "visually stunning fantasy" (Indiewire).

Keywords

    Actors

    • Koné Bakary
    • Steve Tientcheu
    • Digbeu Jean Cyrille
    • Rasmané Ouédraogo
    • Issaka Sawadogo

    Director

    • Philippe Lacôte

    Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantaisie


    1h 33min


    -12

    FRENCH


    DUTCH

    FRENCH

    Canada
    Cote D'Ivoire
    France
    2020
    Trailer
    Ivorian Filmmaker Philippe Lacôte created a mesmerizing, violent and hyper-masculine film that worships the power of storytelling.

    Ivorian Filmmaker Philippe Lacôte created a mesmerizing, violent and hyper-masculine film that worships the power of storytelling.


    A young man is sent to "La Maca", a prison in the middle of the Ivorian forest ruled by its inmates. As tradition goes with the rising of the red moon, he is designated by the Boss to be the new "Roman" and must tell a story to the other prisoners. Learning what fate awaits him, he begins to narrate the mystical life of the legendary outlaw named “Zama King” and has no choice but to make his story last until dawn.


    The movie mixes storytelling and fairy tale elements with a vividly drawn backdrop of heightened realism. The images, often in darkly saturated blues and browns, stand in stark contrast to the staged, Shakespearean scenes of the stories.


    "A powerful and atmospheric film experience that deftly balances something fabulous with reality. Particularly compelling is the way the tension of storytelling is used as a tool for survival." (Sooner curator Jacqueline May)


    NIGHT OF THE KINGS is "a storyteller’s delight" (The Hollywood Reporter) and a "visually stunning fantasy" (Indiewire).

    Festivals

    International Film Festival Rotterdam

    International Film Festival Rotterdam

    Filmfest München

    Filmfest München

    Internationalen Filmfestspiele Venedig

    Internationalen Filmfestspiele Venedig

    Sundance Film Festival

    Sundance Film Festival

    Toronto International Film Festival

    Toronto International Film Festival

    Göteborg Film Festival

    Göteborg Film Festival

    Cast & Crew

    philippe-lacote

    Director

    Philippe Lacôte

    kone-bakary

    Cast

    Koné Bakary

    steve-tientcheu

    Cast

    Steve Tientcheu

    digbeu-jean-cyrille

    Cast

    Digbeu Jean Cyrille

    rasmane-ouedraogo

    Cast

    Rasmané Ouédraogo

    issaka-sawadogo

    Cast

    Issaka Sawadogo


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