OMEN - the debut feature by Belgian-Congolese musican/artist Baloji
May 3
Fri 10:30pm
Dir. Baloji - 2024 - 90m - Democratic Republic of Congo, Netherlands, Belgium - In French, Swahli, Lingala, English with English subtitles
After spending years in Belgium, Koffi (Marc Zinga), a young Congolese man, returns to his birthplace of Kinshasa to confront his family and homeland culture. Secrecy and sorcery erupt when a nosebleed is mistaken for a curse, and Koffi is shunned from his family. Using magical realism to paint a portrait of “undesirables” and “sorcerers,” OMEN delves into the intricacies of identity, culture, and belief systems through a deeply rich and visually captivating lens.
"A psychedelic, vivid delight." - Shubhra Gupta, The Indian Express
"Both culturally specific and universally resonant, this haunting drama powerfully scrutinizes oppressive belief systems with visually striking surrealism that remains grounded in moral complexity and emotional authenticity." - Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue