RAMATA-TOULAYE Sy, a French-Senegalese filmmaker, has captured the spotlight at the Cannes Film Festival’s prestigious competition with her debut film, Banel & Adama. Among the 21 films vying for the Palme d’Or, Sy’s presence as a first-time director has brought a fresh perspective to the renowned event.
Reflecting on her unexpected journey, Sy expressed her realization of the fierce competition she now faces. ‘It’s only now that I realise that being in competition means being in a competition,’ Sy told The Associated Press (AP’s) film writer and critic Jake Coyle with a laugh during an interview after the premiere of Banel & Adama at Cannes. ‘Now that we’re really in the middle of it, I realise there’s a lot of passion going around.’
At 36 years old, Sy stands as the sole first-time filmmaker in this year’s main competition line-up at Cannes. She follows in the footsteps of Mati Diop, another French-Senegalese director, who became the first Black woman to compete for the Palme with her film Atlantics in 2019. While Sy acknowledges the significance of her achievement, she emphasises her identity as a filmmaker beyond categorisations of gender or race.
In Banel & Adama, the only film set in Africa competing for the Palme this year, Sy weaves a mesmerising fable infused with mythology and tragedy. The story revolves around Banel (Khady Mane) and Adama (Mamadou Diallo), a deeply in love couple living in a small village in northern Senegal. Yearning to break free from local traditions, they dream of a life outside the village, buried beneath a mountain of sand.
As they work towards their unconventional aspirations, their desire for independence creates tension within the village, particularly when a drought befalls the community, seen by some as a curse. The film delves into Banel’s psyche, as her unwavering pursuit of individuality takes a dark turn.
‘I was quite reluctant at the start to acknowledge that Banel is me,’ Sy confesses. ‘Now I have to confess that it’s definitely me. I see myself, my questions, my struggle in her journey. How to become an individual inside a community is really my own question.’
Sy began writing Banel & Adama in 2014 while studying at La Fémis, the renowned French film school. Inspired by literature, Sy drew inspiration from novels like Toni Morrison’s Sula and Elena Frenate’s My Brilliant Friend. The love story in the film serves as a vehicle to explore mythology, reminiscent of Greek tragedy.
Having previously co-written acclaimed films such as Our Lady of the Nile and Sibel, Sy’s directorial debut has garnered attention. However, the challenges of shooting in rural Senegal tested her resilience. Overcoming obstacles like scorching heat, sandstorms, and crew illnesses, Sy faced difficulty in finding the right actress for the role of Banel. Eventually, she discovered Khady Mane while walking the streets.
‘We had all the cast except for her. We started five months before shooting, and one month before shooting, we still didn’t have her. One day, I was walking down the street, and my eyes locked on this girl,’ Sy recalls. ‘It was the way that she looked at me. Her gaze had something a bit wise and a bit crazy.’
Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s presence in Cannes as a first-time filmmaker and her thought-provoking Senegalese drama have left a lasting impression on the festival and its audiences, showcasing the emergence of new voices and perspectives in the world of cinema.