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Banel & Adama

Banel & Adama

Banel & Adama

Dir. Ramata-Toulaye Sy
87 min

Banel and Adama are deeply in love, so much so that nothing else seems to matter, including Adama’s role in daily prayers and as village chief. When a drought devastates the countryside, the couple’s love is put to its greatest test.

Banel lost her husband at a young age, and according to tradition, she must marry his brother, Adama. But there is good fortune, as the pair very quickly fall into the deepest love for one another. Lost in the fantasy of their passion, the couple set about moving into their new home–but their life has blinded Adama to his responsibilities, as he ignores daily prayers and his role as village chief. When a drought sets in, cattle die and available water disappears, his actions are blamed for the weather, and this couple’s love is put to the greatest test.

“A striking debut that puts Sy on the map as a purveyor of deceptively gorgeous visions that show flimsy desires at the mercy of the social, and literal, weather.” –Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire

Film Details

Release Year: 2023
Runtime: 87 min
Country/Region: Senegal, France, Mali
Language: Pulaar
Print Source: Kino Lorber
Tags: Drama, Environmental, Oscar Submission, Romance, Women Directors

Cast/Crew

Director: Ramata-Toulaye Sy
Producer: Eric Névé, Margaux Juvénal, Maud Leclair-Névé
Cinematographer: Amine Berrada
Screenwriter: Ramata-Toulaye Sy
Editor: Vincent Tricon
Composer: Bachar Mar-Khalifé
Principal Cast: Khady Mane, Mamadou Diallo, Binta Racine Sy, Moussa Sow, Ndiabel Diallo, Oumar Samba Dia, Amadou Ndiaye, Amadou Hady Sall, Cherif Diallo, Nima Ba, Amadou Kane Sylla