Film

Si-Gueriki

Idrissou returns to his village after having spent ten years in Europe. His father has died in the mean time. He discovers the living conditions of his sisters and nieces, and especially the place his mother holds today. During his childhood, she was just one of his father’s wives, a shadow in the house; today she bears the title «Si-Gueriki», she is the queen mother. With this intimate and personal film, Idrissou Mora-Kpaï casts an eye – from the inside and the outside at the same time – on his origins and his culture.

« Si-Gueriki, La Reine Mère » is an intimate and personal film. Idrissou Mora-Kpai: ‘With the death of my father, part of my childhood, my security, my faith and dreams died too.’ The conversations with all the women are lively, humorous and very elucidating. Despite their difficult position, the ladies are very well aware of what there is to be bought in the world. « MoraKpai filmed their world with respect and love, without too much attractive folklore » (Rotterdam International Film Festival).

• Rotterdam International Film Festival ; Netherlands ; 2003
• Viennale ; Austria ; 2003
• Mill Valley Film Festival ; US ; 2003
• Cinema du Réel ; France ; 2002
• Margaret Meat Film Festival ; US ; 2003
• Etats Généraux du Film Documentaire; Lussas ; France ; 2002
• Encounters ; South Africa ; 2003
• Namur International Festival of French Language Films ; Belgium ; 2002
• Les Ecrans Documentaires ; France ; 2002
• FESPACO ; Burkina-Faso ; 2003
• Fribourg International Film Festival ; Switzerland ; 2003
• Black Movie International Film Festival ; Geneva ; Switzerland ; 2003
• Amiens International Film Festival ; France ; 2003
• Innsbruck International Film Festival ; Austria ; 2003
• Amakula Kampala International Film Festival ; Uganda ; 2004
• CinemAfrica; Netherlands ; 2004
• FICA ; Ivory Coast ;  2004
• Festival Lagunimage ; Cotonou ; Benin ; 2002
• Ouidah International Film Festival ; Benin 2004
• Afrique Taille XL ; Belgium ; 2005
• Vues d’Afrique ; Montreal ; Canada ; 2003
• Cinema Africa ; Berlin ; Germany ; 2003
• New-York African Film Festival ; US ; 2004
• Milan African Film Festival ; Italie ; 2003
• Les Rencontres Cinema de Gindou ; France ; 2003

• Best Documentary; Ouidah International Film Festival ; Benin ; 2003
• Special mention for EU award; Fespaco ; Burkina Faso; 2003
• Best Documentary, TV5 Award ; Namur International Festival of French Language Films ; Belgium ; 2002
• Best Documentary ; Festival Lagunimage ; Benin ; 2002