WAALO FENDO


WAALO FENDO Là où la terre gèle

a film by Mohammed Soudani
Suisse 1997, 16mm, 65′, o.v. Wolof, sub. French/Italian/English

Festivals & Prizes

Swiss Cinema Award 1998: best fiction film
Milan Film Festival 1998 – Best first feature film Award
Italia Award at Assisi where the film represented Switzerland
Amnesty International Film Festival (nomination)
Locarno International Film Festival (Cinéastes du présent) 1997
Göteborg 1998
Rencontres Médias Nord-Sud 1998
Vancouver 1998
Lucas Frankfurt 1998
Toronto 1998
Festival de cinéma international des premières oeuvres Québec 1998
Namur 1998
Fajr Film Festival 1999
Calcutta 1999
Mar del Plata 1999 – Qualiti Award

Synopsis:

Yaro, a young Senegalese, lands in Italy, his head full of dreams of Western opulence. He invites his younger brother Demba to join him. Together they will be able to make money to send home to the family.
Two months later Yaro is murdered not far from Milan’s Central Station. Demba wants to know who killed his brother, and why. The film, following in the footsteps of Demba and friends, takes us on a journey through Italy, seen as a kind of hell that stretches, from the northern fog of Milan to the open-air tomato plantations of the South.

LA MARSEILLAISE

"This drama of the illegal immigration in Milan passes on a deep emotion."

,

L'AVVENIRE

"A movie of an immediate freshness, where the tragedy never becomes pity but remains full of reserve and modesty."

FONCTION CINEMA

"With his first feature film, Soudani signs a truth document of unusual sensibility, both respectful and brave"

Credits

Cast:
Seydou Moussa Ba, Bara Ngom, Souleymane Ndiaye, Oumar Ba
Director:
Mohammed Soudani
Production:
Amka Films, RTSI-Swiss Television, Ivorian Television
international sales:
Amka Films