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Set in MACA, a remote prison in Cote d'Ivoire, Night of the Kings follows a young thief and gang member (Bakary Koné) who finds himself reluctantly appointed as "Roman", or storyteller, by Blackbeard (Steve Tientcheu), a fellow prisoner who serves as "king" from within. Since his health is failing, Blackbeard is pressured to surrender his position and commit suicide, according to their beliefs. But in an effort to delay the inevitable, he tasks Roman to tell stories to the inmate population.
This is a film I hadn't heard of until a couple of months ago, but I've always said it's really interesting to experience films from other countries and cultures. Night of the Kings goes a bit further, not only in how it highlights some specific cultural aspects of Cote d'Ivoire, but also a specific belief system from within this prison. I'm not sure how much of this system is based in real life, but I still find it mesmerizing.
However, the film doesn't dwell as much in the power struggle between Blackbeard and his ambitious subordinate/successor Lass (Abdoul-Karim Konate), or in the logistics of how/why Roman has to tell stories until the "red moon" sets. Instead, the film puts you in the middle of this hypnotizing ceremony to perhaps let you experience it in the same trance-like state as some of the prisoners.
The thing about the film is that, much like Roman's stories seem to weave in and out, leaving his listeners asking for more, the film weaves in and out of certain characters and subplots leaving us asking for more. Tientcheu might be the one I wanted to see more from, and the film certainly loses a bit of oomphh when he's not in. But then there's also Lass, or the guards that stay at the sidelines watching all of this unfold; all stories that seemed worthy of a bit more.
French actor Denis Lavant (Holy Motors, Les amants pont du neuf) also has a supporting performance as the only white prisoner in MACA. It's not a big role, but Lavant does his usual eccentric bit as he warns Roman about what could be his fate. But for now, he just has to tell stories, while we sit there mesmerized in the haze of the film.
Grade:
NIGHT OF THE KINGS
(2020, Lacôte)
A film from Cote d'Ivoire
-- recommended by Sylvie --
(2020, Lacôte)
A film from Cote d'Ivoire
-- recommended by Sylvie --
"From now on, you're Roman, the prince without a kingdom. When the red moon comes out tonight or tomorrow, you'll tell us stories."
Set in MACA, a remote prison in Cote d'Ivoire, Night of the Kings follows a young thief and gang member (Bakary Koné) who finds himself reluctantly appointed as "Roman", or storyteller, by Blackbeard (Steve Tientcheu), a fellow prisoner who serves as "king" from within. Since his health is failing, Blackbeard is pressured to surrender his position and commit suicide, according to their beliefs. But in an effort to delay the inevitable, he tasks Roman to tell stories to the inmate population.
This is a film I hadn't heard of until a couple of months ago, but I've always said it's really interesting to experience films from other countries and cultures. Night of the Kings goes a bit further, not only in how it highlights some specific cultural aspects of Cote d'Ivoire, but also a specific belief system from within this prison. I'm not sure how much of this system is based in real life, but I still find it mesmerizing.
However, the film doesn't dwell as much in the power struggle between Blackbeard and his ambitious subordinate/successor Lass (Abdoul-Karim Konate), or in the logistics of how/why Roman has to tell stories until the "red moon" sets. Instead, the film puts you in the middle of this hypnotizing ceremony to perhaps let you experience it in the same trance-like state as some of the prisoners.
The thing about the film is that, much like Roman's stories seem to weave in and out, leaving his listeners asking for more, the film weaves in and out of certain characters and subplots leaving us asking for more. Tientcheu might be the one I wanted to see more from, and the film certainly loses a bit of oomphh when he's not in. But then there's also Lass, or the guards that stay at the sidelines watching all of this unfold; all stories that seemed worthy of a bit more.
French actor Denis Lavant (Holy Motors, Les amants pont du neuf) also has a supporting performance as the only white prisoner in MACA. It's not a big role, but Lavant does his usual eccentric bit as he warns Roman about what could be his fate. But for now, he just has to tell stories, while we sit there mesmerized in the haze of the film.
Grade: