Waiting for Happiness
an ABDERRAHMANE SISSAKO picture
Synopsis
Melancholic young man Abdallah arrives in his picturesque seaside village in Mauritania. His mother’s efforts to help him adapt prove useless. Before departing for Europe, he gets a glimpse of the fascinating characters and the timeless poetry of their lives…
Trailer
Stills
Press
"A poetic reflection on themes of exile, travel, home and displacement."
VARIETY
"Though talk in the film often turns to death, Khatra’s enthusiasm and love of life keep the movie surprisingly upbeat."
DETROIT FREE PRESS
"Pretty and it’s exotic."
FILM CRITIC
"Takes you by the face, strokes your cheeks and coos beseechingly at you: slow down, shake off your tensions and take this picture at its own breezy, distracted rhythms."
NEW YORK TIMES
"SUBLIME."
FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
"Abderrahmane Sissako’s Heremakono (Waiting for Happiness) is an elegiac portrait of a transit city on the West African coast struggling against foreign influences."
SLANT
"The title perfectly captures the mood of this striking film."
TV GUIDE MOVIE GUIDE
Festivals
& Awards
Cannes International Film Festival
Fipresci Prize
France Culture Award
Toronto International Film Festival
Montreal New Cinema
Louve D’or Prize
Gijon International Film Festival
Special Jury Prize
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Best Film
Paris Biennal of Arab Cinema
IMA Grand Prize
Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film
Youth Jury Emile Cantillon Award
Ouagadougou Panafrican Film and Television Festival
Best Film
Best Art Direction
Moscow Film Festival
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Istanbul History and Cinema Film Festival
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Singapore International Film Festival
London African Film Festival
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Thessaloniki International Film Festival
Cast & Crew
| Khatra Ould Abder Kader | |
|---|---|
| Maata Ould Mohamed Abeid | |
| Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed | |
| Fatimetou Mint Ahmeda | |
| Nana Diakité | |
| Makanfing Dabo | |
| Santha Leng | |
| Baba Ould Mini | |
| Mickaël Onoimweniku |
| Director | Abderrahmane Sissako |
|---|---|
| Writer | Abderrahmane Sissako |
| Producer | Duo Films |
| Executive Producer | Guillaume de Seille |
| Cinematography | Jacques Besse |
| Editor | Nadia Ben Rachid |
| Sound | Antoine Ouvrier, Alioune Mbow |
| Set Decoration | Joseph Kpobly, Laurent Cavero |
| Costumes | Maji-da Abdi |
Releases