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A Screaming Man

Play trailer Poster for A Screaming Man Released Apr 13, 2011 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Aging Adam Ousmane (Youssouf Djaoro), who was once an up-and-coming Chadian swimmer, now manages the pool at a prestigious local resort. When the new Chinese managers of the establishment decide to downsize, Adam loses his job to his own son, Abdel (Dioucounda Koma). Shattered by this demeaning turn of events, Adam is pressured into contributing to the Chadian war effort. With no money to speak of, the only asset he can donate is his son, who is then abducted into the Chadian army.

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A Screaming Man

A Screaming Man

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Critics Consensus

A Screaming Man deftly uses its personal look at a family dynamic to offer pointed political observations, confirming writer-director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun as a major talent.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Okoi-Obuli Shadow and Act An elegant character study of father & son. Apr 21, 2017 Full Review Philip French Guardian A Screaming Man is a quiet film about family life, the relationship between fathers and children, and the way generations can shape and reshape each other. It ultimately has a sublime quality. May 15, 2011 Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard This is not only a good-looking, well directed and splendidly shot and acted film. It is an unforgettable snapshot of a failed country, and one of the best films in London at the moment. Rated: 4/5 May 13, 2011 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row It's a story of sprawling scope on a deeply personal scale, using the family at its core as a microcosm for greater societal tragedy. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 5, 2019 Full Review Michael Sicinski Cinema Scope The director finds himself artistically stranded between the allegorical impulse and the will to historicize. Nov 27, 2017 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Engrossing arty melodrama that brilliantly blends together a tragic political and psychological story set in modern-day Chad. Rated: A May 5, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Adam is the pool attendant at a posh hotel in Chad. He's a former champion swimmer, and has had the job for decades. His son works under him as an assistant pool attendant. When the hotel is bought by new management, Adam finds himself moved to tending the front gate while his son takes over the pool. He's humiliated by the drop in status. Meanwhile, the army has been fighting rebels and is demanding contributions from all citizens to the cause. When Adam cannot come up with any money, he secretly gives up his son to the military, meeting his obligation and getting back his old job in the process. However, the guilt eats away at him, especially when his son's pregnant girlfriend shows up. A well-regarded film that won the Jury Prize at Cannes, it was a little too slow for me, especially in the last act. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member First Chadian film I've ever seen. Hoping the second will be a lot better... clearly influenced by the French cinematic approach, this film is light on plot, insight, character development and heavy on prolonged scenes of silence. Watch on fast forward and you won't miss much. Painfully dull but interesting to see the conflict in Chad given some prominence. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member winner of the cannes 2010 grand jury prize this drama deals with the fall out of civil war in chad where this is filmed. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Very sad. This film is not violent, loud, or shocking. It is gentle, and it shows the emotional side of life, without the fluffy words and posing of other films trying to depict such. Don't watch it if you want action and drama. Do watch it if you are feeling analytical and like you want to love and forgive human beings for the weak, egotistical and selfish beings that we are. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Not as gripping as I thought. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member A Screaming Man is an extremely well played meditation on what it is like to have your world flipped upside down in a heartbeat, and how one makes amends with the unpredictability of life. Highly Recommended. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Screaming Man

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Movie Info

Synopsis Aging Adam Ousmane (Youssouf Djaoro), who was once an up-and-coming Chadian swimmer, now manages the pool at a prestigious local resort. When the new Chinese managers of the establishment decide to downsize, Adam loses his job to his own son, Abdel (Dioucounda Koma). Shattered by this demeaning turn of events, Adam is pressured into contributing to the Chadian war effort. With no money to speak of, the only asset he can donate is his son, who is then abducted into the Chadian army.
Director
Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Producer
Florence Stern
Screenwriter
Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Distributor
Film Movement
Production Co
Pili Films, Entre Chien et Loup
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 13, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.9K
Runtime
1h 32m
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