Films

In "Zero," two Americans inexplicably wake up in Dakar with bombs strapped to their chests. Held hostage in a frantic race against time, they find themselves forced to perform tasks at the command of a voice on the phone (surprise: it's Willem Dafoe). Comedy, action, and suspense set the pace for this vibrant offering from French-Congolese director Jean-Luc Herbulot, who, after "Saloum" (MOTELX '22), resumes his "exploration of what makes Africa, Africa." From a seemingly simple premise, amid gender contrasts and cultural conflicts, the idea of shaking Western prejudices about the meaning of balance and self-determination is realized here. What if, one day, the counter reached zero and power dynamics were reset? Jean-Luc Herbulot answers, and seeing is believing.