Taking place in November 2021, the film takes as its subject 26 royal treasures of the Kingdom of Dahomey, which, along with thousands of others, were plundered by French colonial troops in 1892. As these artifacts are due to leave Paris to return to their country of origin: the present-day Republic of Benin, Diop questions how they should be received in a country that has reinvented itself in their absence, using ethereal voiceover and footage of debating students at the University of Abomey-Calavi to offer multiple perspectives.  

By turns invigorating and thought-provoking, Diop’s latest uses compelling non-traditional storytelling techniques to powerfully bring the past into the present, offering an affecting though altogether singular conversation piece that is as spellbinding as it is essential.

This film contains flickering or flashing lights that may affect those with photosensitive epilepsy.

The 6.15pm screening on Wed 30 Oct will include an introduction by Dr Maria Tavares and Prof Maeve McCusker, School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen's University.

This October, for Black History Month, QFT celebrates Black filmmakers, storytellers and creatives who have enriched cinema.