Mesi's mother has just died. Her grandmother holds the young girl responsible: she should not have conducted a ritual reserved for men. Mesi decides to revisit a folk tale in order to prove to her grandmother that whoever blames her for simply trying help is nothing more than a fool, including God.

A film by Hiwot Admasu GETANEH

Ethiopia / France, 2019, Short film, 19 mins, Amharic, Psychological drama / Legend

starring Haimanot Mulugeta, Alemayehu Maremi, Naif Feysel, Seble Tirfe, Merid Tadios.

Year: 2019
Runtime: 18 min
Language: Amharic
Country of Production: France
Genre : Psychological drama, Legend
Themes : Death, Childhood, Family
Production language : Amharic
Production country : France
Original French-language productions : Unknown
Nationality : 100% French (France)
Production year : 2019
Runtime : 19 min 15 seconds
Visa number : 150.119
Production formats : HD
Color type : Color
Aspect ratio : 1.85
Audio format : Dolby 5.1
Rating restrictions : None

NOTE BY THE PROGRAMMER
When young Mesi steps in for her squeamish brother to perform a traditional - male-only - ritual, she faces blame for the negative outcome. Instead, she defiantly questions the wisdom of her elders' beliefs, in Hiwot Admasu Getaneh's magical realist and gently irreverent drama.
Robyn Citizen (TIFF 19, Toronto)

Principal Cast
Haimanot Mulugeta, Alemayehu Maremi, Seble Tirfe, Bekele Assefa

Executive Producers :
Marie Dubas, Sylvain Rapaud

Director :
Hiwot Admasu Getaneh

Screenwriter :
Hiwot Admasu Getaneh

Line Producer :
Henok Mebratu

Co-producer :
David Danesi

Sound Recordist :
Tristan Pontécaille

Editor :
Nicolas Sburlati

Continuity supervisor :
Hawi Kefale

Costume designer :
Hana Yeshitila

Sound Mixer :
Benjamin Laurent

Assistant director :
Eden Bekele


Director of photography :
Julia Mingo

Assistant Operator :
Billy Mekonnen

Sound Editor :
Benjamin Laurent

Production Designer :
Tamrat Yared

Special Effects :
Anne Daurian

CAST
Haimanot Mulugeta... The Daughter
Alemayehu Maremi... The Grand-mother
Naif Feysel... The Boy
Seble Tirfe... The Mother
Merid Tadios... The Farmer
Bekele Assefa... The Uncle

Executive Producer : Deuxième Ligne Films (France)
Co-production : Digital District (France)


2019 | TIFF, Toronto, Canada
* Selection : Contemporary World Cinema (part of Short Cuts Programme 02)
* World Premiere (Première Mondiale)
https://2019.tiffr.com/shows/a-fool-god