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Dahomey

Play trailer 1:20 Poster for Dahomey Released Oct 25, 2024 1h 8m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 96 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
From acclaimed filmmaker Mati Diop (Atlantics), DAHOMEY is a poetic and immersive work of art that delves into real perspectives on far-reaching issues surrounding appropriation, self-determination and restitution. Set in November 2021, the documentary charts 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey that are due to leave Paris and return to their country of origin: the present-day Republic of Benin. Using multiple perspectives Diop questions how these artifacts should be received in a country that has reinvented itself in their absence. Winner of the coveted Golden Bear prize at the 2024 Berlinale, DAHOMEY is an affecting though altogether singular conversation piece that is as spellbinding as it is essential.
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Dahomey

Dahomey

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Critics Consensus

With a rigorous yet fantastical approach, Mati Diop's Dahomey provocatively uncovers the restitution and repatriation of a stolen legacy, and serves as a powerful statement for decolonization.

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Critics Reviews

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Carlos Aguilar Los Angeles Times At only 68 minutes, “Dahomey” brims with plenty of perspectives on what the restitution of these ancient treasures symbolizes and the dicey political implications around it. Nov 5, 2024 Full Review Sarah-Tai Black Globe and Mail A welcome companion to the rich textures and spirits of Diop’s lauded feature film, Atlantics, Dahomey offers itself as a site of essential reflection and a necessary reminder of the living poetics that cinema is capable of. Nov 4, 2024 Full Review Donald Clarke Irish Times The French-Senegalese film-maker ... has certainly not taken the conventional approach while pondering an increasingly contentious area of postcolonial discourse. But this remains a lucid piece of work that lays out its arguments in sharp fashion Rated: 4/4 Nov 3, 2024 Full Review Filipe Freitas Always Good Movies While the mood is striking, the narrative offers little historical depth, leaving the reigns of kings Ghezo, Glele, and Béhanzin—and the broader cultural context—underexplored. Rated: 3/5 Aug 28, 2025 Full Review Marissa Hill Shade Studios If you're looking for a film that explores the return of cultural artifacts and the history behind colonial plunder, Dahomey might offer some insights, but it’s not the deep dive you might expect. Jul 29, 2025 Full Review Armond White National Review It is Diop’s academic background that makes Dahomey a more creditable venture in the diasporic art craze that we are currently witnessing. May 16, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tom F The straight documentary portions are compelling enough. The decision to give voice to the relics didn’t really work for me, but I appreciate the effort to try something different. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/01/25 Full Review Matthew R Pretty interesting stuff, of course asks a lot of questions regarding colonialism. I would have like to focus, or at least, dip into the history beyond the attempt to repatriate the art. The open conversation was excellent. Incredibly intelligent people. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/08/25 Full Review Daniel B If you're interested in colonialism and artifact restoration, then by all means.... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/25 Full Review Dan D Painfully slow paced. Is it the French writer putting the words in the mouth of a Beninese artifact? Are we supposed to take that as an informed cultural perspective? The redeeming part of the work is the spirited discussion of the University students. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/05/25 Full Review Audience Member Cosmically profound, channeling voices from centuries past in a magical realist format , yet also manages to be pragmatic — opening up a space for honest debate in the 21st century about colonialism and culture. Altogether a stunning achievement from Diop, worthy of all festival buzz and awards chatter, if a bit too slight for its own good. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Catherine Imogen W OK, it was very interesting and we saw the responses of people in Benin to the return of 26 artefacts from France, clearly this was regarded as plundered heritage. Not for art historians. You see few of the artefacts. The anger was palpable. But then again - we saw how carefully 26 pieces had to be wrapped and packaged. Would those who demanded the immediate return of 7000 pieces have been satisfied if they had arrived smashed up en route? I often feel with my own government, when it takes a step in the right direction and people complain - this is not enough! Why not say, well, this is an improvement but we need more, instead of berating the French and their own government? Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Mati Diop

Director

Mati Diop

Writer

Eve Robin

Producer

Judith Lou Lévy

Producer

Mati Diop

Producer

Josephine Drouin Viallard

Cinematographer

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Dahomey

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Dahomey

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Movie Info

Synopsis From acclaimed filmmaker Mati Diop (Atlantics), DAHOMEY is a poetic and immersive work of art that delves into real perspectives on far-reaching issues surrounding appropriation, self-determination and restitution. Set in November 2021, the documentary charts 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey that are due to leave Paris and return to their country of origin: the present-day Republic of Benin. Using multiple perspectives Diop questions how these artifacts should be received in a country that has reinvented itself in their absence. Winner of the coveted Golden Bear prize at the 2024 Berlinale, DAHOMEY is an affecting though altogether singular conversation piece that is as spellbinding as it is essential.
Director
Mati Diop
Producer
Eve Robin, Judith Lou Lévy, Mati Diop
Screenwriter
Mati Diop, Mati Diop
Distributor
MUBI
Production Co
Les Films du Bal
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
French
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 25, 2024, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$54.6K
Runtime
1h 8m
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