Taamaden

Bakary, a young man from Mali, sits on a rock in a lake and pours a small packet of milk over his head and body. He then takes an egg, looks at it carefully and says “Monday”, after which he breaks it and drops the yolk into the water. He repeats this several times. Having followed all his marabout’s instructions to the letter, his next crossing should now be successful.

Taamaden (“Traveler”) shows us two worlds: that of a number of West African immigrants who are making a living in Spain, and that of Bakary in Mali, who is preparing for a new attempt. These young men have one thing in common: they have regular contact with a mystical and religious clairvoyant.

In Taamaden, Mali-born artist and documentary filmmaker Seydou Cissé tells an original and intimate story about the everyday lives of immigrants and their ties to spiritual leaders. Switching smoothly between Africa and Europe, he shows how African occultism finds a place in Europe via the smartphone, and how faith and hope can be as strong as harsh reality.

Nominated for the IDFA Award for Best First Feature