China / Apr 21, 2024 / Beijing International Film Festival (4K)
Overall average
5.0/10
Plot
Events in an idyllic African village are shown in detail in the period just before logging trucks come in and cut down the forest around the villagers, forcing them to move into the wretched shantytowns that surround major cities throughout the undeveloped world. Despite the familiar premise, this surprisingly unsentimental film by Georgian director Otar Ioselliani has several things going for it, beginning with the cinematography and including the natural and unaffected (non-professional) performances of the villagers.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Souleimane Sagna | Soutoura |
| Marie-Solange Badiane | Djou |
| Moussa Sagna | Lade |
| Ouissman Vieux Sagna | Gagou |
| Salif Kambo Sagna | Noukoume |
| Fatou Mounko Sagna | Femme de Yere |
| Oswalda Olivera | Sedou |
| Bouba Sagna | Chatoutou |
Genres
ComedyDrama
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Et la lumière fut |
| Original language | Français (FR) |
| Spoken languages | Français |
| Production countries | Italy, France, Germany |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | CNC, Direkt-Film, La Sept, Les Films du Triangle, RAI |
| Release date | 20 novembre 1989 |
| Production | Alain Quefféléan |
| Writer | Otar Iosseliani |
| Editing | Marie-Agnès Blum, Otar Iosseliani, Ursula West |
| Cinematography | Robert Alazraki |
| Assistant directors | Otar Iosseliani |
| Camera operators | Robert Alazraki |
| Additional photography | Robert Alazraki |
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| Production design | Yves Brover-Rabinovici |
| Art direction | Yves Brover-Rabinovici |
| Set decoration | Yves Brover-Rabinovici |
| Music | Nicholas Zourabichvili |
| Sound | Nicholas Zourabichvili |
| Costume design | Charlotte David |
| Makeup | Charlotte David |
| Hairstyling | Charlotte David |
Release dates
Premiere
Theatrical release
France / Nov 20, 1989
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