The Absence / L'Absence

Film

by Mama Keïta

Details

Senegal and France / 2009 / 81mins / Drama / French, Wolof and Sign language

After brilliant studies in France and an absence of almost seventeen years, Adama, a trained engineer, hastily comes back to his native country, Senegal. He discovers that his deaf sister Aicha is a prostitute and must save her from the underworld. His return and this news, rekindle old family drama.

Trailer

About the Director

Mama Keïta

Mama Keïta was born in Dakar, Senegal, to a Vietnamese mother and a Guinean father. He studied law at the University of Paris I. He has directed and produced a documentary and several long feature films, including 2009’s award-winning film The Absence / L'Absence. He also has to his credit numerous screenplays. In 1998, David Achkar who was about to shoot Le Fleuve, died of leukemia. Before his passing, he asked Mama Keïta to promise to make the film for him. Le Fleuve, produced in 2002, received the Prix de la Presse at the Paris Film Festival in 2003. He directed Le Sourire du Serpent, produced in 2006, which was in competition at FESPACO in 2007. His short film One More Vote for Obama is part of the collective film Africa Seen by..., which was produced and presented at the second Panafrican Festival of Algiers (Panaf '2009, Algeria) which brings together ten short films made by African directors. Learn More