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Night of the Kings

La Nuit des rois

2020

Philippe Lacôte

Issaka Sawadogo, Steve Tientcheu, Denis Lavant, Rasmane Ouedraogo ...

6.3

642

Drama A young man is sent to “La Maca”, a prison in the middle of the Ivorian forest ruled by its inmates. As tradition goes with the rising of the red moon, he is designated by the Boss to be the new “Roman” and must tell a story to the other prisoners. Learning what fate awaits him, he begins to narrate the mystical life of the legendary outlaw named “Zama King” and has no choice but to make his story last until dawn.

	Media	Author	Review
		Lee Marshall Screendaily	"This is an atmospherically shot film about African oral culture (...) But it also uses the space and denizens of the prison as a metaphor for the divisions and tensions within Ivorian society"
		Boyd van Hoeij The Hollywood Reporter	This captivating hybrid of a movie mixes fairy-tale and storytelling elements with a vividly drawn backdrop of heightened realism"
		Ryan Lattanzio IndieWire	"Though hampered by some shaky third-act visual effects, 'Night of the Kings' is through and through an intoxicating and immersive visual experience even as it unfolds almost like a filmed play."
		Peter Debruge Variety	"Lacôte’s film features stories within stories and can be downright confusing to follow, but is never less than mesmerizing"
		Karen Han Polygon	"Though Lacôte’s deft juggling of multiple interweaving stories is impressive, what ultimately makes 'Night of the Kings' so special is how clearly the director depicts the power in telling a story"
		Jared Mobarak The Film Stage	"The film most likely work better for those with knowledge of the Ivory Coast (...) but that doesn’t mean those like me who are ignorant to that strife outside of what Lacôte and Roman provide can’t still enjoy the magic on display"
		Jake Cole Slant	"That a film so frequently harrowing can so often feel joyous without every trivializing the state of its characters’ imprisonment is a testament to the way that Lacôte resolutely finds the meaning embedded within ritual (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"
		John Serba Decider	"The mystery and vitality of 'Night of the Kings' makes it a near-singular viewing experience. It’s a challenge, but one worth taking."
		Steve Rose The Guardian	"This prison drama escapes into magical realism (...) This imaginative and unique Ivorian tale blends modern-day thriller dynamics with older storytelling traditions (...) It is easy to be swept along (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Fabien Lemercier Cineuropa	"A gripping and seductive film that sharply veers off the beaten track."

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