Desrances

After the brutal massacre of his family in Haiti Francis Desrances resettles in the Ivory Coast Years later Francis his wife Aissey and 12yearold daughter Haila await the birth of a son who to Francis excitement and Hailas irritation is immediately regarded as the worthy heir to the Desrances name As the birth looms civil war erupts in Abidjan and amidst the melee Aissey goes missing Haila courageously steps forward in ways that challenge her fathers notion of what constitutes a rightful heir Cementing her status as a bold voice in contemporary filmmaking Apolline Traorés domestic drama escalates into an intense thriller that mounts a passionate challenge to commonlyheld gender roles whilst also highlighting the human cost of civil strife