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Night of the Kings

A young Ivorian pickpocket, new to the La Maca prison, has to entertain his fellow inmates with a night long story. If he fails, it will cost him his life.

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Deze voorstelling maakt deel uit van Rialto Filmclub met als gastspreker deze maand Ernst-Jan Pfauth.

Night of the Kings

A young pickpocket from Abidjan, the largest city in the Ivory Coast, ends up in the huge La Maca prison, which stands just outside the city, surrounded by impenetrable forest. In fact, it is the inmates themselves who run the prison. That night there will be a lunar eclipse and tradition has it that when the moon is red, one of the prisoners must be 'Roman' - someone who has to entertain his fellow prisoners with a story. If he fails, he must pay with his life. Leader Barbe Noir determines that the newcomer should fill that role. He tells the story of gang leader Zama King, in which not only crime but also magic plays a major role.

Everything shows that the Ivorian director Philippe Lacôte comes from the world of radio plays. He mixes reality and myth in a very original way and does so in an eye-catching visual style. Multiple award-winning, including at the Toronto Film Festival.

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