A Screaming Man is a thought provoking examination of paternal egoism under threat. Set in war ravaged Chad, Writer Director Mahamat Saleh Haroun crafts a minimalist film with real affection for a man in the throes of losing his cherished identity and the cowardly decision he takes to avenge his status. The recipient of a Jury prize at the Cannes 2010 Festival, it is a triumphant achievement in storytelling in the midst of political and social unrest in this landlocked African country.
Critical response of this film has been so far positive and I’d admit rightly so. It’s a technically well conceived film. Relying on some very simple story telling techniques, biblical in scope, that are in part reminiscent of the great Ozu, where motionless camera shots absorb the familial scenes with almost religious reverence and also of the neo-realist film makers of Italy, scenes were shot on location in the Chad capital and surrounds achieving a natural beauty and tension that allows the story to be told without hindrance.
The plot revolves around Adam, a proud former swimming Champion and his energetic adult teenage son Abdel who work together manning the pool of a resort hotel in the Chad Capital Njamena. A proud and content family man, he basks in the status of his position his friends affectionately refer to him as “Champ”. New foreign owners, however force Adam to relinquish his role demoting him to gatekeeper meanwhile a corrupt political organizer is pressing him for his contribution towards the war effort. With mounting military instability forcing an exodus from the city, the embittered and stubborn Adam stirs in his resentment towards his son rendering him emotionally mute. Struck with paralysis and fear he capitulates with catastrophic consequences. The realisation of his action comes at the the arrival of Abdel’s pregnant girlfriend leading Adam in the search for redemption.
For all that this film achieves in the practical sense, it left me feeling somewhat disappointed. Much of this comes from the infantile characterization of Adam whom Haroun, I feel, overdevelops into a pathological entity whose obsession with his swimming pool feels just too unrealistic. To then have him suddenly reawakened in some near spiritual burst of conviction underlies the problem with using psuedo-religious stories. They are embedded with predisposed distances which act as convenient barriers for any accountability of action.
Whether seen as a heart felt tragedy or philosophical examination A Screaming Man is well worth the scrutiny.
A Screaming Man is out in cinemas 13th May 2011.
Director: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Stars: Youssouf Djaoro, Dioucounda Koma, Emile Abossolo M’bo
Runtime: 92 min
Country: Chad, France, Belgium
Film Rating: 
