Heremakono

Jan 15 2003 N/A 1h 30m
Drama, Music

Before immigrating to the West, Abdallah travels to the coastal city of Nouadhibou, Mauritania, to visit his mother. Although he grew up there, Abdallah feels anything but at home in his old neighborhood: He can no longer speak the local dialect, and he wears western clothes that immediately cast him as an outsider. But, as Abdallah spends time with a young boy and an elderly electrician, he can't help but feel a sense of loss for the life he's abandoning.

Plot

On the seacoast of Mauritania, some wait to go to Europe. Khatra, a spirited boy, wants an electric light so he can read at night. A stoic older man, Maata, tries to wire the room. Abdallah, a youth on his way to Europe, says good-bye to his mother. Nana looks back on the death of her daughter and her trip to Europe to inform the father. A girl takes singing lessons. Rooms have small windows, looking out onto foot traffic; transistor radios provide some link beyond. Huge ships anchor in the distance. The train comes through, stopping briefly. Offering a cigarette is a gesture of hospitality. Sand dunes and the ocean dominate the landscape. Hope springs amidst small expectations.

Written by

Abderrahmane Sissako

Directed by

Abderrahmane Sissako

Cast

Khatra Ould Abder Kader, Maata Ould Mohamed Abeid, Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

France, Mauritania

Production Companies

ARTE France Cinéma, Duo Films

Languages

Français

Awards

8 wins & 3 nominations

Trailers
Heremakono - trailer
Scores
# of Votes
1,125
Average Rating
6.6 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA