La nuit des rois

A young man arrives at a critical moment in the impressive La Maca jail, deep in the forest outside the city of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire. Tradition dictates that when there’s an eclipse of the moon, a ‘Roman’ has to be chosen – someone who will entertain the other inmates throughout the night with a tall story. The boss among the prisoners nominates the most recent arrival as the chosen one. If his fellow prisoners aren’t captivated by his story until sunrise, he will be put to death.

Philippe Lacôte from Côte d’Ivoire has a background in radio and audio plays, so he knows the value of a well-told tale. In this, his second feature film, he is able to play in inventive ways with the art of storytelling – never a one-way street in La Maca. Here, it is much more a tense interplay between narrator and listener, involving dance, combat, song, poetry and prose.

Winner IFFR Youth Jury Award, IFFR 2021.