Banel & Adama
| Banel & Adama | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| French | Banel et Adama |
| Directed by | Ramata-Toulaye Sy |
| Written by | Ramata-Toulaye Sy |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Amine Berrada |
| Edited by | Vincent Tricon |
| Music by | Bachar Mar-Khalifé |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 87 minutes[1] |
| Countries | France Mali Senegal |
| Languages | Pulaar French |
| Box office | $136,479[2] |
Banel & Adama (French: Banel et Adama) is a 2023 French-Malian-Senegalese romantic drama film directed by Senegalese screenwriter Ramata-Toulaye Sy in her feature directorial debut. It premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2023. It was chosen as the Senegalese entry for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[3][4]
Plot[edit]
Banel and Adama live in a remote village in northern Senegal where they have always lived. Adama is calm and introverted, while Banel displays a passionate and rebellious nature. Both are very much in love and long to have their own house. It is for this reason that the couple decided to live separately from their respective families. The balance of the community is disrupted when Adama refuses to fulfill his blood duty as future leader. He informs the village council, which causes a lot of tension and doubt.[5][6]
Cast[edit]
- Khady Mane as Banel
- Mamadou Diallo as Adama
- Binta Racine Sy
- Moussa Sow
- Ndiabel Diallo
- Oumar Samba Dia
- Amadou Ndiaye
Production[edit]
Banel & Adama is Ramata-Toulaye Sy's first feature film. The cast, composed of non-professional actors, performs in the Pulaaarr, a variant of the Fula language. The film was shot on location in northern Senegal between May and June 2022.[5][6]
Banel & Adama was produced by Eric Névé and Maud Leclair from La Chauve-Souris, and Margaux Juvenal from Take Shelter.[6]
Release[edit]
Banel & Adama premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2023,[7] where competed for the Palme d'Or.[8]
The film was distributed in France by Tandem on 30 August 2023.[6]
Reception[edit]
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 94% with an average rating of 6.6/10, based on 16 reviews.[9] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[10]
Accolades[edit]
| Award / Film Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 27 May 2023 | Palme d'Or | Ramata-Toulaye Sy | Nominated |
| Caméra d'Or | Nominated | |||
| Melbourne International Film Festival | 2023 | Bright Horizons Award | Won |
See also[edit]
- List of submissions to the 96th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Senegalese submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References[edit]
- ^ "BANEL E ADAMA". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Banel & Adama (2024)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ a b Lemercier, Fabien (2 March 2022). "Arte France Cinéma pledges support to Eat the Night by Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel". Cineuropa. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d Keslassy, Elsa (17 February 2023). "Senegalese emancipation drama 'Banel & Adama' boarded by Best Friend Forever". Variety. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ mraultpauillac (2023-05-10). "The Screenings Guide of the 76th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
- ^ "Les films de la Sélection officielle 2023". Festival de Cannes (in French). 13 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Banel & Adama". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Banel & Adama". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
