Title: Night of the Kings
Year: 2021
Genre: Drama
Rating: 6.7
Cast: Koné Bakary, Steve Tientcheu, Digbeu Jean Cyrille, Rasmané Ouédraogo, Issaka Sawadogo
Description: A single flickering candle illuminates a world of brutal beauty in Philippe Lacôte's "Night of the Kings." This isn't just a film; it's a visceral experience, a hypnotic descent into the heart of darkness and the power of storytelling. Confined within the walls of a brutal Ivorian prison, a young man is tasked with narrating a tale through the night, his words weaving a tapestry of myth, violence, and survival. Lacôte masterfully crafts a claustrophobic atmosphere, using the confined setting to amplify the intensity of the narrative. The film's hypnotic rhythm, punctuated by bursts of chilling violence, keeps you captivated, forcing a confrontation with the raw realities of power, superstition, and the enduring human spirit. While ostensibly a prison drama, "Night of the Kings" transcends genre, becoming a potent exploration of identity, mythmaking, and the transformative power of words. It's a film that lingers long after the credits roll, a testament to the enduring strength of the human voice.