Ivory Coast / 1993 / 90mins / Comedy, Drama / French

In The Name of Christ is a wry fable of religion in Africa that follows the exploits of a self-proclaimed “cousin of Christ.” In this derisive satirical drama, an untutored West African pig-keeper who has been tossed out of his house, falls into a river and has a vision, which sends him back to his people to save them for Jesus. His theology is highly imaginative, his miracles are based on superior showmanship, and his mission is a complete success. He is so lionized by the worshippers he has converted that not only does he openly sleep with married women, but they put on nun's robes and feed him publicly from their hands.

Roger Gnoan M'Bala

Roger Gnoan M’Bala was born in Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast, in 1943. He studied in Sweden and at the Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma in Paris. In 1970 he directed Koundoum, his first black and white documentary on traditional dance, and two years later his film Amanié won several prizes, including the FIFEF. Since then, he has produced and directed feature films, notably the award-winning Ablakon. He later became known for his film Au nom du Christ, winning in 1993 a premio giovani at the Locarno International Film Festival and an Étalon de Yennenga at the FESPACO and Adanggaman, which won several awards including the Special Jury Award at Marrakech International Film Festival 2001. Learn More