Mati Diop's 'Atlantique' at Cannes: A Haunting Tale of Migration and Identity

Mati Diop made history as the first Black woman director to enter the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival with her debut feature 'Atlantique' (2019). The film blends documentary, romance, supernatural horror, and noir to explore the contradictions facing women, society, and the economy in Senegal. Set in Dakar, the story follows Ada (Mame Bineta Sane), a young woman promised to a wealthy traditionalist businessman, who loves Souleiman (Traore), a construction worker on a new high-rise. After a workers' revolt over unpaid wages, Souleiman and others attempt to cross the sea to Spain and drown. Their spirits return, possessing women and demanding justice. The film critiques globalization's impact on African cities, juxtaposing gated communities and slums, and the drive for nodal connectivity. Diop cites Sofia Coppola's 'The Virgin Suicides' as an influence, and the cinematography by Claire Mathon captures the sea's moods. The score by Fatima Al Qadiri is noted but compared unfavorably to Oneohtrix Point Never's work for 'Good Time'. The screenplay is criticized as uneven, with too many plot threads and underdeveloped characters, yet the film is praised for giving voice to contemporary Africa and its women, particularly Ada's quiet search for identity. The film premiered at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival.