Dir: Mahamet-Saleh Haroun | Drama 101′
Chad is known for its natural landscapes and the Ennedi Plateau, which features incredible rock formations and ancient cave art. The country is also famous for its cultural diversity, with over 200 ethnic groups and more than 120 languages spoken across the country. But men are still living in the dark ages, according to this film in competition at Berlinale 76.
In a remote village where the arrival of Islam goes hand in hand with tribalism, xenophobia and misogyny still prevail. Belief in sorcery and legend is still widespread amongst the menfolk who are suspicious of unmarried nubile women and blame them for a sudden change in climate, or an unusual spate of infant deaths.
Seasoned director Haroun and his co-writer Laurent Gaudé show how all this deeply affects Kellou, the film’s central character, a sensitive young soul whose carefree days are nonetheless haunted by fleeting visions and nightmares, evoked by a delicate use of magic realism adding a kinetic energy to the increasingly lethargic narrative.
Kellou (Maimouna Miawama) feels cursed for being ‘born of blood’. And this enigmatic phrase brings a touch of mystery to this exquisitely photographed tale of female emancipation and male oppression. Love for Kellou has come in the shape of Baba (Christ Assidjim Mbaihornom), another teenager whose family doesn’t approve of their relationship. Kellou becomes even more alienated by the elders when she befriends Aya, an older woman also rejected by the menfolk. Aya teaches her how to use local plant remedies to heal her wounds when the 17-year-old is stoned by a group of men. Aya, a sort of female mentor, takes Kellou under her wing and the two become fellow outcasts, the villagers threatening Kellou’s father Gabra with eviction if he fails to deal with the situation.
Aya tells Kellou she was there at her birth, but unable to save her mother’s life. Aya was born during Sousoum when, according to legend, men and women dance with masks that free everyone to be what they want. Aya will teach Kellou how to be free to live her own life in the final stretch of the film which sadly loses momentum after a positive beginning.
BERLINALE 2026 | WINNER OF THE FIPRESCI PRIZE 2026