"Startling, scary, and unforgettable. It’s the sort of thing we go to the movies for." - Adam Nayman, The Ringer
"SAINT OMER doesn’t condescend to the viewer by slinking toward black-and-white offerings of good and evil. It dances on the surface of these participants, and in their subtle ripples, to reveal humanity in the seemingly inhumane." - Robert Daniels, The Playlist
Parisian journalist Rama (Kayije Kagame) travels to Saint Omer in the north of France to observe the trial of a Senagalese woman, Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanda), accused of infanticide. Coly does not deny the crime; she claims her actions were motivated by sorcery and out of her control. As she bears witness in the oppressive and claustrophobic courtroom, Rama’s family history rises to the surface, as do fears about her own impending motherhood - wordlessly connecting the women to one another. This revelatory and gripping narrative debut from acclaimed documentarian Alice Diop (WE) is a provocatively layered examination of racism and generational trauma, and signals Diop as a multifaceted talent.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Silver Lion, Grand Jury Prize, Venice Film Festival
Winner - Director to Watch, Palm Springs International Film Festival
Winner - Silver Hugo, Best Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival
Please check our full COVID-19 policy and details below: