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Chad's Ennedi Desert: A Cradle of Humanity and Film
15 Feb
Summary
- Filmed in the remote Ennedi Desert, a region rich in legends and early human history.
- Director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun sees filmmaking in Chad as preserving national memory.
- Newcomer Maïmouna Miawama's performance deeply touched the director.
- The Ennedi Desert is considered the origin point for all humankind.
- Haroun views cinema as a source of brightness and hope amidst sadness.
Director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's latest film, "Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars," was shot in the evocative Ennedi Desert of northeastern Chad. This striking landscape, steeped in childhood tales of transformation and identified as the birthplace of the first humans, inspired Haroun to create a mythology about the beginning of the world.
Haroun emphasizes his commitment to documenting Chad, returning multiple times a year to ensure his films authentically reflect his homeland. He views his role as an archivist, preserving a vanishing past against the tide of modernization. Despite the inherent sadness in documenting loss, he finds that cinema provides brightness and hope.
The film features newcomer Maïmouna Miawama as the spirited lead, Kellou. Haroun was deeply moved by Miawama's raw emotion and awareness of loss during their casting conversations, recognizing her powerful connection to the role.
Haroun, who emigrated to France in the 1980s, has established himself as a prominent voice in African cinema. His consistent return to Chad underscores his dedication to telling stories from within and building a vital memory for his country.
