Disco Afrika : une histoire malgache

Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story

Generation 14plus 2024

In Madagascar, 20-year-old Kwame struggles to make a living in the clandestine sapphire mines. An unexpected event takes him back to his hometown. There, as he is reunited with his mother and old friends, he is also confronted by the rampant corruption that plagues his country. Kwame is forced to choose between easy money and loyalty; between individualism and a political awakening.
The young protagonist Kwame seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders but he always finds the strength to search for answers and a way to a better future. The film echoes the African civil rights movements of the 1970s – an era which marked an artistic and musical awakening as a continuation of the struggle for independence. In Kwame’s personal story, the film also addresses the legacy of colonialism and the history of resistance and throws a spotlight on the contemporary situation.

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by Luck Razanajaona
with Parista Sambo, Laurette Ramasinjanahary, Joe Lerova, Drwina Razafimahaleo, Jérôme Oza France / Madagascar / Germany / Mauritius / South Africa / Qatar 2023 Malagasy 81’ European premiere | Debut film recommendation: 14 years and up

With

Parista Sambo (Kwame)
Laurette Ramasinjanahary (Mother)
Joe Lerova (Idi)
Drwina Razafimahaleo (Bezara)
Jérôme Oza (Babaa)

Crew

Director	Luck Razanajaona
Screenplay	François Hébert, Marcello Novais Teles, Ludovic Randriamanantsoa, Luck Razanajaona
Cinematography	Raphaël O’Byrne
Editing	Marianne Haroche, Patrick Minks
Music	Pierre Gratacap
Sound Design	Pierre George
Sound	Julien Verstraete
Production Design	Florence Dumont
Costumes	Sandra Rajaonarivo
Make-Up	Mihamintsoa Rakotoniaina
Casting	Delphine Zingg
Producers	Jonathan Rubin, François Magal
Executive Producers	Jonathan Rubin, Herizo Rabary
Co-Producers	Herizo Rabary, Nicole Gerhards, David Constantin, Carolyn Carew
Co-Production	Africamadavibe Production Antananarivo NiKo Film Berlin Caméléon Production Port Louis Free Women Films Johannesburg

World sales

Sudu Connexion

http://sudu.film http://sudu.film

Produced by

We Film

http://www.we-film.fr http://www.we-film.fr

Photos

Luck Razanajaona

The director comes from Madagascar and studied at the Ecole Supérieure des Arts Visuels in Marrakech, Morocco. He has participated in and developed his projects at Berlinale Talents, Rotterdam Lab and La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde in Cannes. His short films and feature-length documentaries have screened at numerous festivals around the world. Disco Afrika: une histoire malgache is his first feature-length fiction film.

Filmography

2013 Le Zebu de Dadilahy; short film 2015 Madame Esther; short film 2021 Faritra; co-director, documentary 2023 Disco Afrika : une histoire malgache (Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2024