“You know you’re marrying Omar in 10 days, right?” a friend asks Ada (Mame Bineta Sane) in the trailer for Mati Diop’s “Atlantics.” “But I’m in love with Souleiman,” she replies, matter-of-factly.
Senegal’s entry for the International Feature Film Oscar traces the intense, somewhat supernatural, connection Ada and Souleiman (Traore) share, even when they’re apart. The latter works in a construction crew that hasn’t been paid in months. In order to find better opportunities, they decide to leave the country. “The boys have gone,” Ada is told. “Out to sea. They took a boat.” Yet Souleiman’s presence still lingers.
People claim to see him around town. A detective is confident Souleiman is responsible for a fire that broke out at Ada’s wedding. Ada herself continues to experience a physical bond with her lover. “Something took hold of me last night,” she confesses. “It’s Souleiman. I can feel it.”
“Atlantics” premiered at Cannes in spring, where Diop became the first black female filmmaker to screen a feature in Competition. The film won the Grand Prix. Since then it has played at festivals such as TIFF, San Sebastián, and BFI London. “Atlantics” will screen tomorrow at the New York Film Festival.
The pic marks Diop’s feature directorial debut. She co-wrote it with Olivier Demangel. Diop previously helmed documentary “A Thousand Suns” and several short films.
“Atlantics” will open in select theaters November 15 and hit Netflix November 29.
