A Screaming Man by Mahamat Saleh Haroun, Cannes 2010
A Screaming Man is a quote from the poetry collection Return to My Native Land by Aime Cesaire, but it's also a title of an upcoming French war drama film directed by Mahamat Saleh Haroun, and movie scheduled to compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2010.
The whole story is set during turbulent times in Chad, so no wonder they already describe it as “a kind of history handed down from father to son… and from generation to generation”…
Here's A Screaming Man synopsis: “Present-day Chad. Adam, sixty something, a former swimming champion, is pool attendant at a smart N'Djamena hotel. When the hotel gets taken over by new Chinese owners, he is forced to give up his job to his son Abdel. Terribly resentful, he feels socially humiliated.
The country is in the throes of a civil war. Rebel forces are attacking the government. The authorities demand that the population contribute to the “war effort”, giving money or volunteers old enough to fight off the assailants. The District Chief constantly harasses Adam for his contribution. But Adam is penniless; he only has his son.”
Mahamat-Saleh Haroun was in charge both for writing and directing this story and cast includes Emile Abossolo M'bo as district chief, Youssouf Djaoro as Adam, Diouc Koma as Abdel, Djeneba Kone as Djeneba, Hadje Fatime N'Goua as Mariam and Marius Yelolo as David.
French company Pili Films co-produced the film with Entre Chiens et Loups of Belgium and Chadian company Goï Goï Productions. The two million Euro budget included support from the CNC and pre-sales to Canal +, Canal Horizons, Ciné Cinéma and TV5MONDE. Filming took place during six weeks on location in Chad, starting 30 November 2009.
We recommend you to take a look at this video, which is actually 2min clip from A Screaming Man, and perhaps the best way to explain Haroun's story of man leaving in quite cruel and chaotic place. Stay tuned!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYWj6pafdhU[/youtube]
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