Watch Atlantiques

Atlantiques is a 2009 Senegalese film directed by Mati Diop, and it marks the director's debut feature-length film. The movie tells the story of a group of young men who leave Senegal in search of a better life in Spain. The film starts with a group of men gathered in Dakar, Senegal, to perform a traditional dance in honor of a friend who has gone missing. The missing friend, Souleiman (Cheikh M'Baye), has left the country with a group of other young men in search of better job opportunities in Spain. The film follows the lives of the remaining friends, including the protagonist Ada (Alpha Diop), in the aftermath of Souleiman's departure.

Ada is engaged to a wealthy businessman named Omar, but she is secretly in love with Souleiman. As she tries to reconcile her feelings, she finds out that Souleiman and his companions never made it to Spain. Instead, they perished in the ocean during an attempt to cross it on a small boat.

The rest of the movie follows Ada as she tries to come to terms with the tragedy, as well as the many other obstacles in her life. Ada, like many other women in her community, faces discrimination and oppression because of her gender. She is often the victim of unwanted attention and harassment from men, and her own fiancé Omar is abusive and controlling.

In contrast to the bleakness of Ada's life, the film takes on an almost otherworldly tone when it focuses on Souleiman. We see Souleiman make his way across the border into Spain, struggling with the physical and emotional toll of the journey. The scenes set in Spain are dreamlike, complete with shots of Souleiman wandering the streets alone, as well as a memorable shot of him standing in front of a mirror, looking at his reflection and wondering who he has become.

The film is notable for its exploration of themes such as migration, gender, and spirituality. At its core, Atlantiques is a movie about people trying to find a sense of belonging and purpose in an often hostile world. The characters are searching for a better life, whether it's in the form of employment, love, or something else entirely. However, they are also grappling with the harsh realities of life, such as poverty, violence, and systemic oppression.

Despite its heavy subject matter, Atlantiques is also a visually stunning film. The cinematography captures the beauty of Senegal's landscape and culture, as well as the stark contrast between the characters' different realities. The movie is also notable for its fantastic use of music, blending traditional Senegalese sounds with more contemporary pieces.

Overall, Atlantiques is a thought-provoking film that explores complex themes through the lens of a captivating story. It is a bold, confident debut from director Mati Diop, and it establishes her as an exciting new voice in world cinema.

Atlantiques is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 15 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.