Saint Omer (film)

Saint Omer
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alice Diop
Screenplay by	Alice Diop Amrita David Marie NDiaye
Produced by	Toufik Ayadi Christophe Barral
Starring	Kayije Kagame Guslagie Malanda Valérie Dréville Aurélia Petit Xavier Maly Robert Canterella Salimata Kamate Thomas de Pourquery
Cinematography	Claire Mathon
Edited by	Amrita David
Music by	Thibault Deboaisne
Production company	Srab Films
Distributed by	Les Films du Losange
Release dates	7 September 2022 (2022-09-07) (Venice) 23 November 2022 (2022-11-23) (France)
Running time	122 minutes
Country	France
Language	French
Box office	$822,891[1]

Saint Omer is a 2022 French legal drama film written and directed by Alice Diop, and starring Kayije Kagame and Guslagie Malanda. It is Diop's first narrative feature; her other films have been documentaries. The film is based on the French court case of Fabienne Kabou, who was convicted in 2016 of murdering her infant by drowning. Diop attended Kabou's trial.

Rama (Kagame) is a pregnant young novelist who attends the trial of Laurence Coly (Malanda), a Senegalese woman accused of murdering her 15-month-old child by leaving her on a beach to be swept away. Rama imagines writing about the event as a literary retelling of the Greek tragedy Medea.

The film premiered in-competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on 7 September 2022,^[2] where it won the Grand Jury Prize, along with the Luigi De Laurentiis Lion of the Future award.^[3][4] Additional screenings were held at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2022 New York Film Festival before theatrical release in France on 23 November 2022.^[5][6] The film was selected as the French entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards,^[7] and made the December shortlist.^[8] The film received the Grand Prix for Best Film at Film Fest Gent in 2022.

Plot

Rama, a literature professor and novelist, travels from Paris to Saint-Omer to observe the trial of Laurence Coly and write about the case. Coly is a graduate student and Senegalese immigrant who is charged in the murder of her 15-month-old daughter, having left her on a beach to be drowned by the tide in Berck.

Rama is four-months pregnant herself and, like Coly, is in a mixed-race relationship. She also has a complex relationship with her own Senegalese immigrant mother, and feels a personal connection to Coly. She plans to write a modern day retelling of the Greek Medea myth in her treatment of the case. As she learns more about Coly's life and the isolation Coly suffered from her family and society while studying and living in France, Rama becomes increasingly anxious about her own life and her pregnancy.

The film cuts before the outcome of the trial is announced. It shows Rama's return to Paris, and her spending time with her mother.

Cast

• Kayije Kagame as Rama
• Guslagie Malanda as Laurence Coly
• Valérie Dréville as The Judge
• Aurélia Petit as Defence Barrister Vaudenay
• Xavier Maly as Luc Dumontet, Coly's partner
• Robert Canterella as Barrister
• Salimata Kamate as Odile Diata
• Thomas de Pourquery as Adrian, Rama's partner
• Salih Sigirci as Salih
• Fatih Sahin as Fatih
• Atillahan Karagedik as Jackson
• Ege Güner as Ege Güner
• Mustili as Mustafa
• Lionel Top as Journalist

Production

Saint Omer is based on the 2016 court case of Fabienne Kabou, who was convicted of killing her daughter in 2013, in the same way as Coly. Diop followed the case and immediately recognized Kabou's features from news footage as being Senegalese, which is Diop's family heritage. Diop attended the trial and became "obsessed" with the case, noting that most of the attendees and participants at the trial were also women. Diop elaborated that she "wanted to find answers to my own intimate questions that I had asked myself about my relationship with my own mother and being a mother myself. And I decided that since I shared those same emotions with so many women, if we were all so obsessed with that event, it meant there was something universal in the story, which had to do with motherhood. So I decided to make a film about it."^[9] Like Rama, Diop was pregnant with her first child while attending the trial.^[10] Diop said that she attended the trial out of "intuition" and did not decide to make a film about it until after the trial ended. Having only made documentary films, Diop made her narrative feature film debut because cameras were not allowed in the courtroom and she "wanted to recreate my experience of listening to another woman's story while interrogating myself, facing my own difficult truths."^[11]

Court-transcripts were partially used to write the screenplay. While writing the script, Diop first met actresses Kayije Kagame and Guslagie Malanda. She was immediately impressed with both women and thought of them while still writing the script. She later contacted both Kagame and Malanda to audition. Diop has said she has been influenced by the work of Marguerite Duras. In the film, the character Rama is seen lecturing about Duras.^[9]

Filming took six weeks. Both the cast and crew were mostly female, which "wasn't fully deliberate, nor was it wholly accidental" according to Diop.^[11] Filming took place between May and July 2021 in the Île-de-France and Hauts-de-France regions, including in the commune of Saint-Omer.^[12][13] Guslagie Malanda, who played the role based on Kabou, found being in character so taxing that she had nightmares for a year. Diop fainted on set when the shooting wrapped.^[14][15]

Release

Saint Omer was initially considered for the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.^[16] It premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on 7 September 2022,^[2] where it won the Grand Jury Prize along with the Luigi De Laurentiis Lion of the Future award.^[3]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 94% based on 139 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The website's consensus reads, "A gut-punching contemplation of a woman's immigrant experience, Saint Omer puts a mother on the stand and the audience in the jury box to find humanity in the inhumane."^[17] According to Metacritic, which assigned a weighted average score of 91 out of 100 based on 36 critics, the film received "universal acclaim".^[18]

Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called it "Intellectually galvanizing and emotionally harrowing, the story explores motherhood, race and postcolonial France with control, lucidity and compassion."^[19]

In September 2022 it was selected as France's official selection for Best International Film at the 95th Academy Awards.^[20]

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
Venice Film Festival	10 September 2022	Golden Lion	Alice Diop	Nominated	[21]
		Grand Jury Prize		Won
		Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film		Won
		Casa Wabi – Mantarraya Award		Won	[22]
		Cinema & Arts Award - Golden Musa		Won
		Edipo Re Award		Won
London Film Festival	16 October 2022	Best Film	Saint Omer	Nominated	[23]
Film Fest Gent	24 October 2022	Best Film		Won	[24]
Chicago International Film Festival	21 October 2022	Gold Hugo		Nominated	[25]
		Silver Hugo for Best Screenplay	Alice Diop, Amrita David, Zoé Galeron, and Marie NDiaye	Won	[26]
Seville European Film Festival	12 November 2022	Golden Giraldillo	Saint Omer	Won	[27]
		Best Screenplay	Alice Diop, Amrita David, Marie Ndiaye	Won
Gotham Independent Film Awards	28 November 2022	Best International Feature	Saint Omer	Nominated	[28]
Louis Delluc Prize	30 November 2022	Best Film of the Year		Won	[29]
National Board of Review	8 December 2022	Top Five Foreign Language Films		Won	[30]
European Film Awards	10 December 2022	Best Director	Alice Diop	Nominated	[31]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association	11 December 2022	Best Foreign Language Film	Saint Omer	Runner-up	[32]
Chicago Film Critics Association	14 December 2022	Best Foreign Language Film		Nominated	[33]
		Milos Stehlik Breakthrough Filmmaker Award	Alice Diop	Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle	22 December 2022	Best Foreign Language Film	Saint Omer	Nominated	[34]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists	5 January 2023	Best Non-English Language Film		Nominated	[35]
Lumière Awards	16 January 2022	Best Film		Nominated	[36]
		Best Female Revelation	Guslagie Malanda	Nominated
		Best Screenplay	Alice Diop, Marie NDiaye and Amrita David	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Claire Mathon	Nominated
Palm Springs International Film Festival	16 January 2023	Best International Feature Film	Saint Omer	Won	[37]
Seattle Film Critics Society	17 January 2023	Best Film Not in the English Language		Nominated	[38]
Online Film Critics Society	23 January 2023	Best Debut Feature		Nominated	[39]
London Film Critics' Circle	5 February 2023	Film of the Year		Nominated	[40]
		Foreign Language Film of the Year		Nominated
		Supporting Actress of the Year	Guslagie Malanda	Nominated
Black Reel Awards	6 February 2023	Outstanding Foreign-Language Film	Saint Omer	Won	[41]
Directors Guild of America Awards	18 February 2023	Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film	Alice Diop	Nominated	[42]
César Awards	24 February 2023	Most Promising Actress	Guslagie Malanda	Nominated	[43]
		Best Original Screenplay	Alice Diop, Amrita David, Marie NDiaye	Nominated
		Best First Feature Film	Toufik Ayadi, Christophe Barral, Alice Diop	Won
		Best Cinematography	Claire Mathon	Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards	4 March 2023	Best International Film	Saint Omer	Nominated	[44]
Toronto Film Critics Association	6 March 2023	Best Foreign Language Film		Won	[45]
Paris Film Critics Association	5 February 2023	Best Picture	Alice Diop	Nominated	[46]
		Best Actress	Guslagie Malanda	Nominated	[46]
		Best Young Actress	Guslagie Malanda	Nominated	[46]
		Best Young Actress	Kayjie Kagame	Nominated	[46]
		Best Original Screenplay	Amrita David, Alice Diop & Marie NDiaye	Nominated	[46]

See also

• List of submissions to the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
• List of French submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

References

1. "Saint Omer (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
2. "Saint Omer". La Biennale di Venezia. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
3. "Venice Film Festival Award Winners 2022". Indiewire. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
4. Pat Saperstein (16 September 2022). "Alice Diop's Venice Prize-Winner 'Saint Omer' Acquired By Neon's Boutique Label Super". Variety. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
5. Picard, Andréa. "Saint Omer". tiff.net. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
6. "Saint Omer". cineuropa.org. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
7. Goodfellow, Melanie (23 September 2022). "Oscars: France Selects Alice Diop's 'Saint Omer' For Best International Film Race". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
8. Giardina, Carolyn (21 December 2022). "Shortlists for 95th Academy Awards Unveiled". The Hollywood Reporter.
9. Rapold, Nicolas (12 September 2022). "With Venice Winner Saint Omer, Director Alice Diop Puts Motherhood Under the Microscope". W Magazine. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
10. Ide, Wendy (7 September 2022). "'Saint Omer': Venice Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
11. Croll, Ben (10 September 2022). "Venice Prizewinner Alice Diop on the Haunting Nature of 'Saint Omer'". Variety. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
12. André-Sarreau, Léa (12 May 2021). "En tournage: "Saint-Omer" d'Alice Diop". Trois Couleurs (in French). Retrieved 8 November 2022.
13. Brassart, Florian (4 July 2021). "De nombreux figurants recherchés pour le tournage d'un film, à Saint-Omer". Actu.fr (in French). Retrieved 8 November 2022.
14. Zuckerman, Esther (16 January 2023). "For the Documentarian Alice Diop, Only Fiction Could Do Justice to a Tragedy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
15. Zemler, Emily (12 January 2023). "Inside the tale of a real-life child killer so intense it made its director faint". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
16. Ruimy, Jordan (19 September 2022). "Why Wasn't Alice Diop's 'Saint Omer' at Cannes?". World of Reel. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
17. "Saint Omer". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
18. "Saint Omer Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
19. Dargis, Manohla (16 September 2022). "In Toronto, Films by Women About Women, but That's Where the Similarities End". New York Times. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
20. "Oscar 2023 du long métrage international: la liste des films français présélectionnés". CNC. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
21. "Venice Film Festival Winners: Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell Take Top Acting Prizes – Updating Live". Deadline Hollywood. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
22. "COLLATERAL AWARDS OF THE 79TH VENICE FILM FESTIVAL". labiennale.org. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
23. "Full programme announced for 66th BFI London Film Festival". BFI. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
24. "Film Fest Ghent: Alice Diop's 'Saint Omer' and Michael Koch's 'Drii Winter' take top honours". The Brussels Times. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
25. Kay, Jeremy (16 September 2022). "'No Bears', 'Saint Omer' among Chicago fest international selections (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
26. "58th Chicago International Film Festival Reveals Award Winners". Rober Ebert.com. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
27. McLennan, Callum (13 November 2022). "'Saint Omer,' 'Close' 'Will-o'-the-Wisp' Win Big at Seville". Variety.
28. Shanfield, Ethan (25 October 2022). "'Tár' Leads Gotham Awards Nominations: Full List". Variety. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
29. "Le Prix Delluc récompense ex aequo les films "Saint Omer" d'Alice Diop et "Pacifiction" d'Albert Serra". rtbf.be. 30 November 2022.
30. Jones, Marcus (8 December 2022). "2022 National Board of Review Winners: 'Top Gun: Maverick' Takes Top Honor". IndieWire. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
31. Goodfellow, Melanie (8 November 2022). "'Close', 'Holy Spider' & 'Triangle Of Sadness' Lead European Film Awards Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
32. Thomas, Carly (11 December 2022). "'Tár' and 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Named Best Picture by L.A. Film Critics". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
33. Tallerico, Brian (12 December 2022). "Everything Everywhere All at Once Leads Chicago Film Critics Nominations". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
34. Neglia, Matt (14 December 2022). "The 2022 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
35. "2022 EDA AWARDS NOMINEES". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
36. Muratore, Lisa (16 December 2022). "Les Prix Lumières 2023 dévoilent leurs nominations". L'Eclaireur (in French). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
37. Haring, Bruce (15 January 2023). "'Saint Omer' Takes Top Honors At 34th Palm Springs Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
38. "'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Leads the 2022 Seattle Film Critics Society Nominations". Seattle Film Critics Society. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
39. Neglia, Matt (23 January 2023). "The 2022 Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
40. Pulver, Andrew (21 December 2022). "The Banshees of Inisherin leads pack as London film critics announce nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
    Ramachandran, Naman (5 February 2023). "'The Banshees of Inisherin,' 'Tár' Lead London Critics' Circle Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
    Ritman, Alex (5 February 2023). "'Tár' Named Film of the Year at London Critics' Circle Film Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
41. Anderson, Erik (15 December 2022). "'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' 'The Woman King' lead 2023 Black Reel Awards nominations". Awards Watch. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
42. Pedersen, Erik (11 January 2023). "DGA Awards Film Nominations: Steven Spielberg, Martin McDonagh, Todd Field, Joseph Kosinski & The Daniels Vying for Top Prize". Deadline. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
43. Goodfellow, Melanie (25 January 2023). "César Nominations: Louis Garrel's 'The Innocent' Takes Surprise Lead, Followed By 'Night Of The 12th' – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
44. Lattanzio, Ryan (22 November 2022). "2023 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced (Updating Live)". IndieWire. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
45. "Aftersun Leads 26th Annual TFCA Awards Winners". Toronto Film Critics Association. 8 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
46. "Nominations 2023 | Paris Film Critics Association". Paris Film Critics Association. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

External links

• Saint Omer at IMDb
• Saint Omer at AlloCiné (in French)
• Saint Omer 2022 Toronto International Film Festival page
• Saint Omer 79th Venice International Film Festival page
• Saint Omer – Wild Bunch Inbternational page
• Les Films du Losange page
• SRAB Films page