KARMEN GEI

Category: Feature Film
Production year: 2000
Release date: 27/06/2001
DVD release date: 17/05/2019
VOD rental start date: 17/05/2019
Country: France, Canada, Senegal
Genre(s): Drama
Runtime: 1h26

Director(s): GAI RAMAKA Joseph
Cast: GAI DIOP Djeinaba, NIANG Magaye, BIDDLE Stéphanie

Synopsis

In the central courtyard of the Gorée prison, the women, both richly dressed prisoners and dolled up wardens, play the virtuoso Doudou N’Diaye Rose’s famous “N’Dei Gei” on improvised percussions. Echoing the rhythm of the percussions with the movement of her loins, Karmen invites the head of the prison to dance. After hesitating, she places herself at the center of the circle. Together they start a beautiful dance, enthralling Karmen’s companions. In the middle of the night, the head of the prison meets Karmen in her cell. Set free at dawn, the former convict dives into the ocean. One month later, in a lower-class neighborhood of Dakar, Karmen seduces Lamine Diop, the police detective, in the middle of his wedding and uses a knife against the beautiful wife who tries to come between them. The head of the police and father of the bride, has Karmen arrested and asks the demoted Lamine to take her back to jail.