Nuit de la Verite, La

Alternative title
Night of Truth, The
Synopsis
Feature film. A parable set in a fictitious West African country rent by 10 years of tribal conflict between the ruling Nayak and the rebel Bonande. The director has stated that she saw Shakespearean overtones in her attempts to universalise the tragedy of civil war. Some critics have particularised this belief and have seen Mark Antony in the figure of Colonel Theo, a flawed military hero. The many references relating food and mutilation have forged comparisons with Titus Andronicus and the overriding theme of war, peace, and reconciliation through suffering, extreme violence and death can be seen as Shakespearean themes.
Language
French (Standard)
Country
Burkina Faso; France
Medium
Film
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Year of release
2004
Duration
99 mins

Credits

Director
Fanta Régina Nacro
Producer
Claire-Agnes Lajournard; Fanta Régina Nacro
Cinematographer
Nara Keo Kosal
Screenplay
Fanta Gautron; Fanta Régina Nacro
Music
Nicholas Becker
Art Direction
Bill Marnadou Traore
Cast
Adama OuedraougoPresident Miossoune
Georgette PareSouman
Moussa CisseColonel Theo
Naky Sy SavaneEdna
Rasmane OuedraougoTomota

Additional Details

Production type
Fiction Films
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
The Bonande and the Nayaks are also differentiated by the language they speak - Dioula and Moore, the two main tongues of Burkino Faso. When they have to communicate with each other they have to use French, the language of the former colonial power.
General
The first sub-Sharan feature film to be directed by a woman.
Awards
Nominated for Grand Prix, Paris Film Festival 2005. Won Best New Screenwriter, San Sebastian International Film Festival, 2005 (Nacro and Gautron).
Reviews
Philip Kemp, ‘Blood Meridian’, Sight and Sound, vol. 15, no. 9 September 2005 pp46-7

Production Company

Name

Acrobates Films

Address
France
Name

Films du Defi

Address
France
Name

France 3 Cinema

Address
France

Distributor (Sale)

Name

BFI Video

Email
video.films@bfi.org.uk
Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7957 8957
Fax
020 7957 8968
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

Retail outlets

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Nuit de la Verite, La". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av37653 (Accessed 26 Nov 2024)