''Souli'' is a 2004 Malagasy

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

written and directed by

Alexander Abela Alexander Abela (born 30 November 1964), is a British-French filmmaker, producer and writer. He is best known for directing the live action films ''Makibefo'', ''Souli'' and the animation film ''Zarafa''. Personal life He was born on 30 Novembe ...

and based on

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

''. It follows Abela's 1999 film ''

Makibefo ''Makibefo'' is a 1999 Malagasy black-and-white drama film written and directed by Alexander Abela. The director filmed the movie near the town of Faux Cap, Madagascar, with a single technical assistant. With the exception of an English-speak ...

'', an adaptation of ''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

''.

Plot

Carlos (based on Shakespeare's Cassio) is a young Spanish student searching for the renowned

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

ese poet Souli, who may be the last griot to possess the "Thiossan tale". Souli, based on

, is working as a fisherman and living with a young French woman Mona (based on Desdemona). Abela's version of the villainous Iago is French trader Yann, who, helped by his girlfriend Abi, plots to destroy the lives of Souli and Mona.

Cast

* Eduardo Noriega as Carlos * Aurélien Recoing as Yann *

Makena Diop Makena may refer to: * Makena Onjerika, Kenyan writer and 2018 Caine Prize winner * A brand name of hydroxyprogesterone caproate * Makena, Hawaii, a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii * Makena State Park * Makena Beach & Golf Resort M ...

as Souli *

Fatou N'Diaye Fatou N'Diaye is an actress, originally from Senegal, born 1980 in Saint-Louis du Sénégal. Biography At 8 years old, she left Senegal with her mother, and moved to Paris. In 1997, aged 16/17, she was discovered by Oliviero Toscani, commerci ...

as Abi *

Jeanne Antebi Jeanne may refer to: Places * Jeanne (crater), on Venus People * Jeanne (given name) * Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc, 1412–1431) * Joanna of Flanders (1295–1374) * Joan, Duchess of Brittany (1319–1384) * Ruth Stuber Jeanne (1910–2004), Americ ...

as Mona

Distribution and reception

''Souli'' played at festivals including the 2004

Montreal World Film Festival The Montreal World Film Festival (WFF; french: le Festival des Films du Monde) was one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF (although the Toronto Internat ...

and the 2005 Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival. In 2005, it was nominated for the Grand Prix at the Paris Film Festival.

References

External links

* * 2004 films 2004 drama films French drama films 2000s French-language films Malagasy-language films Malagasy drama films Films set in Madagascar British drama films Films based on Othello 2000s British films 2000s French films 2004 multilingual films French multilingual films {{2000s-France-film-stub