Movie ‘Grigis’ by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun

Grigris ‘Grigris‘ has been one of the movies that received a lot of attention at the recent Cannes Film Festival. Directed by French-Chadian Mahamat-Saleh Haroun the movie tells the story of a young Chadian man who earns his money as a photographer and dancer in night clubs despite being physically handicapped. Due to financial constraints he decides to involve himself in illegal smuggling of black-market petrol over the border to Cameroon.

It is obvious that Mahamat-Saleh Harou created something groundbreaking in this movie. He gives Souleymane Démé the chance to present his professional dance and acting talents to a global audience and thus increases our feeling of respect for disabled persons who are too often neglected in our societies – everywhere in the world. Too often do we pity them instead of recognizing their individual talents and potential. ‘Grigris‘ can be an eye-opener for all of us!

“It was very easy. Haroun simply asked me to dance and I danced. It was I who created the scenes, I developed them, everything that you see on screen is what I brought to the role. There wasn’t any rehearsal, we simply started shooting and I performed. It comes easily to me as well because I have been dancing professionally since I was a young man and I developed all my choreographies for the film.” – Souleymane Démé (in Washington Post)