Atlantics

In Senegal's bustling capital, Dakar, two young lovers sneak private moments with the urgency of youthful desire. Their gravitational pull towards each other is also based on knowing their time is limited, as Ada (newcomer Mama Sané) is soon to be wed to a wealthy but frivolous man. Meanwhile, Souleiman (first-time actor Ibrahima Traoré), working on a futuristic skyscraper, hasn't been paid for weeks and is forced to leave land for the sea in hopes of finding a better life. When he sets off, Ada is haunted by his memory and, then, perhaps more.

Critical Notes

"The intense pleasure of Atlantics is not in the A-to-B storytelling, but in the poignant and painful emotions its filmmaking conjures. And in the realization that this is just the first scream of an intensely curious and essential cinematic voice." - Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail

Film Information

Director: Mati Diop
Cast:: Mame Bineta Sane, Amadou Mbow, Ibrahima Traore  
Year: 2019
Runtime: 105 min 
Country: France, Senegal, Belgium
Language: Wolof, French, English, Arabic with EST
Distributor: Jim Sherry Media Inc.
Ratings: ON NR / BC NR / AB NR / SK NR / MB NR / QC NR / Maritmes NR

Screenings

* Represents an approximate date. Please consult local listings.