BEYOND THE OCEAN
Africa—Europe: Two intertwined destinies
Directed by Éliane de Latour
With Fraser James and Djedje Apali
In Europe – Kad Merad, Malik Zidi, Sara Martins, Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Marie-Josée Croze
In Ivory Coast – Tella Kpomahou, Jimmy Danger, Angéline Nadié, Michel Bohiri, Gabriel Zahon
Fictional feature film – 2009 – 110′
Produced by Icebreaker
With LES FILMS D’ICI – ARTE FRANCE CINEMA – CNRS – KINGSROAD PICTURE COMPANY – COGNOTION – CNC and the support of the Republic of Ivory Coast.
Shad and Otho, two African friends, embark upon a European adventure. They dream of returning home as benefactors and heroes.
Otho is deported and returns to his country empty-handed. Cast aside by his family and friends, the only affection and understanding that he finds is with his sister Pélagie… Meanwhile, Shad pursues his plan with Tango, a young, bright and energetic white woman whom he meets by chance in London.
Thousands of miles apart, the two men continue their struggle. While Otho tries to resist his fall, Shad deals with the threats of the police, the greed of his black “brothers” and the jealousy of Tango’s family… He believes in his lucky star and knows that one day he will marry Pélagie in style.
Shad and Otho finally meet up in the old county for a face-off in which each man defends the reality of his dream with strength and conviction.
PRESS REVIEWS
some excerpts
« Eliane de Latour modifie l’angle de vision porté sur l’immigration réduite généralement à sa dimension économique. Loin du documentaire, le récit fait un détour par les imaginaires et leurs contradictions »
JDD
« Gorgé d’énergie, à l’affût d’idées de cinéma, la réalisatrice use à fond de la musique. Chants reggae, rap, ragga : un bonheur sonore. Les images sont flamboyantes, au diapason des rêves de son aventurier. »
Le Monde
« Un style baroque, fiévreux, impulsif. Une fine connaissance de l’Afrique. La partie est éblouissante. »
Le Canard Enchaîné
« Un humour tchatcheur et poétique qui valorise le message politique et spirituel de cette comédie dramatique haute en couleur de l’esprit. »
Paris Match
INTERNATIONAL PRESS REVIEWS
