Grigris

African writer/director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun has created a drama based on a gifted dancer Souleymane Démé and has captured so much atmosphere of the world of Chad that his drama is truly a work of art. The lighting, the music, the actors - all the 'props' of a film are excellent and the story is deeply moving.

Grigris is a quiet gifted dancer who suffers form a malformed withered left leg, yet in spite of his deformity he enhances his income by dancing in the clubs at night: the exuberant crowd places money in this clothes and his hat in response to the exceptional dancing the man performs. His day job is working for his stepfather, Ayoub, in Ayoub's shop that offers a variety of services from tailoring to photography. And in the photography aspect of his work he meets Mimi who wants some photographs for her 'modeling job' (Mimi is a prostitute.) Grigris falls in love, but when Ayoub falls critically ill Grigris must make more money to pay the hospital bills. He is sucked into being a transporter of petrol for the black market. Things do not go well for Grigris and after some unfortunate events Grigris and Mimi must escape and in doing so confront their private demons in hopes of creating a new life.

The story is solid if a bit plodding at times, but the brilliance of Souleymane Démé's dancing alone makes the film stunning. There are many subtle and not so subtle metaphors about the current state of African nations that will touch the hearts of those fortunate enough to see this fine film. It is a plea of humanity on every level.