Mamadou Dia was born and raised in Matam, a small town in northern Senegal, very close to Mauritania. After studying at the University of Dakar, he passed a competitive exam at a communications and journalism school. He worked as a journalist for almost 10 years until he, who as a child was not allowed to go to the cinema, let himself be won over by the desire to make films, to the point of applying and to be accepted into the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. After several short films, he directed “Le Père de Nafi”, his first feature film, a film selected in several festivals and which, in particular, was doubly rewarded at Locarno 2019: best first film and Golden Leopard of the section “Filmmakers of the present”.
“Nafi’s Father” takes place in Matam, a small town in Senegal. There, two brothers clash over the marriage of their children. Two world views clash, one moderate, the other radical. Young Nafi and Tokara dream of going to study in Dakar, the capital, and living with the times. Like a tragedy, and as the extremist threat imposes itself, the lovers must find a way to emancipate themselves from the conflicts of adults.
If, at the start, the film suggests incest as the central subject of this fiction, it very quickly surprises the viewer with the deployment of the scenario which, against the backdrop of the rivalry between two brothers, highlights the question of human nature on basis of philosophy, religion, politics. Beyond radicalism with different worldviews, “Nafi’s Father” calls for the realization that beyond human differences, men should learn to cohabit in peace, joy and mutual understanding. Ensuring that difference becomes a strength and not a source of division.
In this feature film, a drama of approximately 1 hour 49 minutes filmed in the local language, the characters show themselves invested in their roles. Which captivates the viewer from start to finish of the plot. These include, among others, Alassane Sy, Saikou Lo, Penda Sy, Aïcha Talla, Mamadou Bayo Sarr, Alassane Ndoye, etc.
