La nuit des rois

For once , the trade paper reviews were actually accurate, it is so different from what 'we' are used to watching. And I was totally engaged from the very first moments of the film until the end and for me it was a movie that stays with you and you come to understand some of the deeper aspects of the film after you have watched it. The movie has completely different 'sensibilities' than Hollywood fare, it is most decidedly 1) African and 2) by a foreign (French) director. The best I can tell anyone reading this review is that I was so glad I watched it and enjoyed every last minute of it.

A gripping, imaginative movie set in the Ivory Coast, Night of the Kings centers on a young criminal named Roman who is forced to use his imagination to survive two nights in a lawless jail. In reality, our Roman (the title of a storyteller, our character's proper name is never given) is little more than a pawn in a bigger game of jail politics as the overlord plays a dangerous game to hold onto power as he physically weakens. What proceeds is a fascinating tale-within-a-tale as the Roman desperately weaves real life and fantasy to pass the time and remain alive. The setup and execution of this film is brilliant in its use of storytelling as the narrative intercuts between the story being told and life inside the jail.

Barry Kone as the Roman, the storyteller of the movie does an incredible job, transitioning from confused and helpless to confident to desperate as he spins his plates and lays his anecdote. The prison's Dangoro, or overlord, played by Steve Tientcheu is a quiet, brooding man wasting away as he feels his power slipping. Tientcheu plays the character smaller than his large frame suggests, sitting or laying down the majority of the time tethered to an oxygen tank. While he doesn't get much screentime, his presence is felt throughout as some inmates scheme against him and others furiously protect him.

Lacote's second outing after 2015's politically charged film Run, Night of the Kings shows no signs of a sophomore slump. He wastes little time getting to the point, dumping the Roman in the thick of things, leaving him, and by virtue us, confused and bewildered as events play out around him. The mixture of hardened criminals, prison politics, and world-weary wardens flesh out the world of this prison as a grimy gulag, a spot in the middle of nowhere where all the inmates have to look forward to is stories. The power and seduction of storytelling is the very heart of the matter, as inmates eagerly assist the Roman, acting out bits of his story in a sort of mimed improvisation that gives us a peek into not just the imagination of the Roman, but the imagination of these criminals as well. The story within the story told is a muddled mess, a result of a kid who's putting together any and everything in a desperate attempt at holding their attention. Directed wonderfully by Lacote, he makes you feel the dirt and the grime of the place, the desperation of the inmates for a good story and the desperation of the overlord, playing this final hand to keep his supremacy.

Overall, The Night of the Kings is well worth the time spent watching. An ode to storytelling itself, and how stories are shaped and molded, it's rife with all the necessary ingredients: great characters, great visuals, and ticking clocks. A fascinating story, wonderfully acted by both the actual actors and the inmates within the film, and perfectly paced at 93 minutes makes this a quick, engrossing, enjoyable film that will you leave you wondering what other stories this region of the world is capable of. Night of the Kings will be released in theaters and virtual cinemas on February 26th, and on video on demand on March 5th.

Not bad, not great, good. Beautifully shot with the potential for intricate storytelling, but lacking depth beyond the cinematography. It is a rollercoaster I'm glad to have ridden once, but won't be returning to.

A young man is sent to "La Maca", a prison of Ivory Coast in the middle of the forest ruled by its prisoners. With the red moon rising, he is designated by the Boss to be the new "Roman" and must tell a story to the other prisoners. Night of the Kings is a really cool concept. Right away it's interesting and I kept wondering what would happen next. The writing for this is cool in the way that it's based on storytelling. The directing by Philippe Lacôte is very well done. But by far the thing that struck me most is the amazing ensemble. All of them have their own distinct characters and use it to the fullest. If the SAGs could nominate an ensemble that no one really knows about, this would be the one. Now, I do have some pacing issues and some of the execution didn't always work for me. But the crazy ending more than makes up for it. I would hope to see this at the Oscars or at least the Globes for international feature this year.

Written and directed by Philippe Lecote, Night of the Kings was screened outdoors at the Hollywood Legion Drive-in Cinema and the soft and cool breeze present throughout the film laid down an atmospheric ambiance that no indoor theatre could match. Blazing cinematography with vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues from cinematographerTobie-Marier Robitaille rivaled Roger Deakins Academy-award winning work from BladeRunner 2049.

Night of the Kings turned out to be a special Friday Night at the drive-in. In addition to the exceptional cinematography, epic (literally and figuratively) production design the stalwart performances, and the classic narrative combined with the writing and seemingly spontaneous choreography send this feature film into the stratosphere. Highly recommended!