Hyenas by Djibril Diop Mambéty (1992)
MAUVAIS GENRES: Columbia Maison Française Film Festival

Fiction, 110 minutes
*In French and Wolof with English subtitles

The screening will be followed by a discussion with Professor Souleymane Bachir Diagne and Professor Mamadou Diouf.

Linguère Ramatou fled her native land in Sahel and acquired a legendary fortune; now she is returning by train to her former village, and she announces that she will make a fabulous donation, subject to certain conditions. Dramaan, Linguère's former lover, who denied paternity of their child and caused young Linguere’s initial departure, could well be the target of her revenge… Adapted from Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Visit of the Old Lady (1955), this visually fascinating and fiercely anti-patriarchal and anti-colonialist feature is the second and last film by Djibril Diop Mambéty. Produced in France, selected in Cannes in 1992, and recently restored, it is considered a masterpiece of Senegalese cinema.

Djibril Diop Mambéty (1945–1998) was a Senegalese film director, actor, orator, composer and poet. Though he made only two feature films and five short films, they received international acclaim for their original and experimental cinematic technique and non-linear, unconventional narrative style. His niece, director Mati Diop, paid tribute to his first feature, Touki Bouki, in her film Mille Soleils.

To watch the trailer, please click here

This event is featured as part of the film festival, Mauvais Genres: French Cinema Takes on Gender organized by the Columbia Maison Française and curated by Nora Philippe.

Please email [email protected] to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs. This event will be recorded. By being electronically present, you consent to the Maison Française using such video for promotional purposes.