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Atlantiques
On the beach, gathered around a fire, a group of young Senegalese men discusses a possible attempt to cross the ocean to Spain. Mati Diop’s experimental documentary Atlantiques is a precursor but also a narrative sidestep to what would become her feature debut, Atlantics, ten years later.
The two men who speak up the most debate whether the dangerous journey is worth it. Can one find work in Europe? They discuss a previous, failed journey, as well as harsh economic realities and their spiritual beliefs. Diop contrasts the darkness that surrounds them with sometimes blinding light, emphasising the crux of the conflict between a bleak home and the allure of the unknown.
Bio Mati Diop
French-Senegalese actress and filmmaker Mati Diop (1982) directed the film Atlantics in 2019. It made her the first Black female director in contention for the Cannes Film Festival’s highest prize, the Palme d'Or. Instead, the film won the Grand Prix.
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- This film was #37 in the “Greatest” Short Films of All Time 2025