Burkina Faso, France and Germany / 2021 / 67mins / Documentary / Dioula

In the district town of Bobo-Dioulasso, near Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, sex workers entrust their children to Ms. Coda, an elderly woman who has been taking care of countless youngsters for decades while their mothers take to the streets at night to work. Over the years, filmmaker Moumouni Sanou has managed to gain the trust of everyone involved in this unique set-up, together with a huge amount of insight into the lives of Odile and Farida, both of whom rely on Ms. Coda’s services. Sanou tenderly observes all aspects of their situation, including domestic work, downtime, and the most intimate moments of motherhood, as well as their relationship to Ms. Coda and how she raises their children. Winner of the Etalon D'oro - Best Documentary at FESPACO 2021.

Moumouni Sanou

Moumouni Sanou is a part of the new generation of Burkina Faso's documentary filmmakers. He has been working as a DOP on several sets and has also edited and directed short films. Night Nursery is his first feature film. Learn More