Dahomey
Seen it?2024 | 68 min | Documentary
Saturday Specialearly ratingWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite a box office flop. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 8 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Thousands of royal artifacts of Dahomey, a West African kingdom, were taken by French colonists in the 19th century for collection and display in Paris. Centuries later, a fraction returned to their home in modern-day Benin. This dramatized documentary follows the journey of 26 of the treasures as told by cultural art historians, embattled university students, and one of the repatriated statues himself.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 85 on Metacritic
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Berlin award: Berlin International Film Festival: Golden Bear. Also nominated for 2 Critics' Choice Awards and 1 more Berlin award. Plus 6 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$566K worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 33K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Mati Diop
- Lucrèce Hougbelo(voice)
- Parfait Vaiayinon(voice)
- Didier Sedoha Nassangade(voice)
- Sabine Badjogoumin(voice)
- Dowoti DesirSelf
- Micheline AyinonSelf
- Bicarel GnikpoSelf
- Nadia Vihoutou KponadouSelf
- Carlos OunsouganRadio Univers
- Saturnin OlouRadio Univers