Movie No. 9 (2020): ATLANTICS

Atlantics (2019)
Director: Mati Diop
Cast: Mame Bineta Sane, Amadou Mbow, Ibrahima Traore
In French and Wolof, with English subtitles

Atlantics, a Grand Prix winner at 2019 Festival de Cannes, made the December 2019 shortlist for the Best International Feature of the 92nd Academy Awards. This is the second film from Senegal to attain same achievement. It's not without reason that this movie gets critical acclaim.

What's conspicuous in the movie is teenage romance challenged by a tradition. Subtle is the social commentary on oppression and migration. But, what gives the movie a different mood is magical realism that borders horror and the supernatural. This mix gives a movie that's beautiful, haunting, and unique.

This is one of the best movies I've seen in the last so many years.

Rating: 4.0/4.0

Date seen: March 13, 2020