Craig here, continuing a look at films showing at the 54th BFI London Film Festival.I much admired Chad filmmaker Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's Daratt/Dry Season from 2007 (it took the #4 spot in my year-end list for that year), and he’s triumphed again with his fourth feature, A Screaming Man/Un homme qui crie. Made in the same refined and frank vein as Daratt, this new film follows Adam (Youssouf Djaoro), a pool cleaner and former swimming champion who works at an exclusive N'Djamena hotel with the assistance of his son, Abdel (Diouc Koma). After a job reshuffle Adam loses his job to Abdel; he sinks into depression fuelled by anger and humiliation, and so takes unexpected action. His situation worsens, just as civil war engulfs the country and rebel armies infiltrate the area.
Much of the film’s drama is underplayed. Haroun’s camera focuses on Adam in a curious, contemplative manner, observing with deftness the way his livelihood is slowly and slyly wrenched from him. Events major and minor are directed with crisp elegance, ensuring the plot never strays into falsity despite the tinge of melodrama inherent in it. One crucial shot, detailing a troubling decision Adam makes halfway in, tells us everything we need to know in a single, slow zoom into Adam’s face as he silently wallows in his demotion. Work is life for him; his job a necessity and cherished position, however lowly, which still holds for him the shine of his former swimming glories.
A Screaming Man is showing at the LFF on Wednesday 20th and Friday 22nd October.
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2 comments:
I find it so weird, given the praise this film has received at various festivals, that CHAD did not submit it for Oscar consideration. Wonder if they just don't care? The smaller countries can be so erratic when it comes to submissions.
nathaniel, chad definitely should have submitted this. although it's not exactly oscar bait, (it's a tad too slow-paced and contemplative compared to what the usually go for) but i think they had a really shot anyway.
i watch the movie at TIFF this september and really liked it as well. especially about the music i think craig is spot on.
one thing that really impressed me was the performance by abdel's girlfriend (i think her name is djemba kone?)
she had two scenes but she was TERRIFIC and provided a great alternative emotional driving force for the film when adam was becoming too irritating for me to sympathize with.
anyway, mistake on the part of chad i think. i don't think it's every year they get a good shot at the oscars like this, but they missed it.
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