A father suffers the effects of war

Official competition entry Un homme qui crie takes place mainly in the Chadian capital, Njamena. But it also takes us to the river in its bid to show the effects of war - here Chad’s civil war – on people’s lives through a father-son relationship that goes awry.

RFI/Kèoprasith Souvannavong

As their final separation looms, on the banks of the river, father and son reach reconciliation. The river and a swimming pool play major roles since the father, Adam, played by Youssouf Djaoro, is a former central African swimming champion and he and his son, Abdel, are hotel pool attendants. A Chinese hotel take-over in Africa plays a minor role. 

The story is sluggish in the beginning, and accelerates finally when Adam shakes himself out of self-pity and guilt, hits the man who coerced him into sending his son to the army as the rebels are approaching, and sets off to retrieve his now seriously wounded child.

One of the neat finds in this film, that could make it memorable, is the diver’s mask Adam wears in lieu of motorbike goggles, or visor and helmet.

Directed by Chadian Mahmet-Saleh Haroun, Un Homme qui crie takes its title from a poem by Aimé Cesaire. It is his fourth feature film.

The photography is mostly up to snuff, and some images would not look out of place on the walls of an art gallery.