Hyenas (1992 film)
| Hyenas | |
|---|---|
film poster | |
| Directed by | Djibril Diop Mambéty |
| Written by | Djibril Diop Mambéty |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Pierre-Alain Meier Alain Rozanès |
| Starring | Ami Diakhate |
| Cinematography | Matthias Kälin |
| Edited by | Loredana Cristelli |
| Music by | Wasis Diop |
| Distributed by | California Newsreel Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | Senegal |
| Language | Wolof |
Hyenas (French: Hyènes) is a 1992 Senegalese film adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's Swiss-German satirical tragicomedy play The Visit (1956),[1] directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty.[2] The intimate story of love and revenge parallels a critique of neocolonialism and African consumerism. It was entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.[3]
Plot
Hyenas tells the story of Linguere Ramatou, an aging, wealthy woman who revisits her home village of Colobane. Linguere offers a disturbing proposition to the people of Colobane and lavishes luxuries upon them to persuade them. This embittered woman, "as rich as the World Bank", will bestow upon Colobane a fortune in exchange for the murder of Dramaan Drameh,
Cast
- Ami Diakhate as Linguère Ramatou
- Djibril Diop Mambéty as Gaana
- Mansour Diouf as Dramaan Drameh
- Calgou Fall as the priest
- Faly Gueye as Mme. Drameh
- Mamadou Mahourédia Gueye as the Mayor
- Issa Ramagelissa Samb as the professor
Critical response
Critical response to the film was mostly positive. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 11 critics' reviews are positive.[4] Hyenas was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.[3]
- "A timeless story...The strong story line and fine ensemble acting provide a faster, more easily assimilated rhythm than many African films." - Variety
- "This pungent film adaptation's change of locale lends the tale a new political dimension...(Mambety) inflects the grim drama with an edge of carnival humor. This film carries a sting!" - The New York Times
- "This wicked tale, told with wit and irony, has all the ingredients of a crowd-pleaser." - The Village Voice
- "Funnier and warmer than Dürrenmatt ever dared to be but with the tale's bleak, ominous edges still in evidence." - New York Newsday
References
Notes
- ^ "Film Review: Hyenas". Ralph Dumain: "The Autodidact Project". 29 July 2000. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
- ^ Barzegar, Golnouche (11 January 2019). "Cinéma : "Hyènes", une nouvelle vie pour le film culte de Djibril Diop Mambéty". TV5Monde. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ^ a b "Festival de Cannes: Hyènes". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
- ^ "Hyenas (1992)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
Bibliography
- "California Newsreel - HYENAS". California Newsreel. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
External links
- Hyenas at IMDb
- Hyenas at Rotten Tomatoes
- Hyenas at the TCM Movie Database (archived)