MARFILMES

ABLAKON
AFRICAN FILMS

Original Title: Ablakon Ivory Coast, 1986 color 90' Drama

	A city with its problems. A gang of abandoned children provide for themselves and pose as heroes. The police are on their backs day and night. They are enterprising, energetic, and full of fresh vitality. Despite the fact they are rejected by their parents and ignored by the world, they form among themselves a powerful example of solidarity. Ablakon is something of a different order. He is an adult delinquent and a swindler. Posing as a businessman, he has deceived a countless number of people. When he and his accomplice return to the village, his extravagant behaviour is mistaken for a sign of success. Following his example many young people leave for the city. But they will soon understand their mistake… Language: French Cast Kodjo Eboucle, Issa Sanogo, Mathieu Attawa, Joel Okou, Bitty Moro, Adjei Zoubly Director: Roger Gnoan M'bala Production Company: Roger Gnoan M'bala	Awards Prize of the Jury Amiens Film Festival Prize for best actor: Kodjo Eboucle, Fespaco 1986 Festivals Montréal, Tokio, Milan, Spain
Versions: Original version and with English subtitles. Availability: Please contact TRIGON FILM - Walter Ruggle [info@trigon-film.org] - www.trigon-film.org


Roger Gnoan M'Bala was born in 1941 in Grand Bassam (Ivory Coast). he studied at the independent French cinema conservatory and in Sweden. From 1968 to 1978 he worked as an assistant to a film director, then as a radio transmission director for the national radio and TV channel. His short film called Amanie wins the silver tanit at the JCC of Carthage He directed his first feature film in 1984, Ablakon, a sarcastic and highly active comedy. Fame come with the film, Au nom du Christ (1993) and he wins the youth prize at the Locarno film festival (Swiss) and the Étalon de Yennenga at the Fespaco (Burkina Faso). Adangamman confirms his talent in 2000. The film depicts the relationship between European slavers in seek of human merchandise and West African kings who would sell them their prisoners. Such a bold theme, combined with his personal talent originated one of the master pieces of late 20th century African cinema. Filmography Amanie / Quelles sont les nouvelles? (1972), fiction (32'), 16mm, B&W Le Chapeau (1974-75), fiction (70'), 16mm, color Ablakon (1984-85), fiction (90'), 35mm, color Bouka (1988), fiction (90'), 35mm, color Au nom du Christ (1992), fiction (90'), 35mm, color Adanggaman (2000), Fiction 95 mn, 35 mm, color