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Omen (2023 film)

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Omen
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBaloji
Screenplay by
  • Baloji
  • Thomas van Zuylen
Produced by
  • Benoit Roland
Starring
CinematographyJoachim Philippe
Edited by
  • Bertrand Conard
  • Bruno Tracq
Music byLiesa Van der Aa
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Imagine Film Distribution
  • Pan Distribution (Pan-Européenne)
Release dates
  • 23 May 2023 (2023-05-23) (Cannes)
  • 15 November 2023 (2023-11-15) (Belgium)
Running time
90 minutes
Countries
  • Belgium
  • DR Congo
  • Netherlands
  • France
  • South Africa
  • Germany
Language
  • French
Box office$29,696[1]

Omen (French: Augure) is a 2023 drama film written and directed by Belgian-Congolese director Baloji. Starring Marc Zinga, Lucie Debay and Eliane Umuhire,[2] it premiered at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section on 23 May 2023, where it won the New Voice Prize.[3]

A co-production between Belgium, DR Congo, the Netherlands, France, Germany and South Africa, it was selected as the Belgian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[4]

In 2023/24 movie director Baloji held the exhibition Baloji Augurism in the MOMU fashion museum in Antwerp, Belgium inspired by the traditional African costumes that he had designed for his film along with Elke Hoste.[5]

Premise

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Congolese man Koffi was disowned by his mother in his youth for being a so-called "zabolo", Swahili for evil sorcerer. Now he returns to Congo from Europe to visit his family, along with his white pregnant girlfriend. The visit does not go well as the ancient rituals and persistent superstitions of the local tribes continue to haunt Koffi.[6]

Cast

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  • Marc Zinga: Koffi
  • Lucie Debay: Alice, wife of Koffi
  • Eliane Umuhire: Tshala
  • Yves-Marina Gnahoua: Mama Mujila
  • Marcel Otete Kabeya as Paco
  • Denis Mpunga as Malage
  • Bongeziwe Mabandla as Ezra
  • Guetty Lembe as Bella Bello
  • Linda Ikwa as Masekini
  • Dylan Mata as Maky
  • Romain Barthez as Abel / Dr. Phileasfog
  • Mordecai Kamangu as Simba
  • Olive Mfumu Ntonto as Maya

Production

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The head director and screenwriter is the Belgian-Congolese Baloji, also known as the music artist of Starflam, among others. The company Wrong Men produced the film. The production budget was 1 million euros. The film received financial support from the VRT, the RTBF, the Centre du cinéma de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, screen.brussels, the Dutch Audiovisual Fund and the Federal Tax Service, among others. Filming lasted 23 days and took place at 18 different locations. Augure was released in Belgian theaters on November 15, 2023, and is distributed internationally under the name Omen.[7]

Release

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Omen had its premiere at 2023 Cannes Film Festival in 'Un Certain Regard' on 23 May 2023. It was invited to Horizons section of 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was screened on 30 June 2023.[8] It was screened at the 2023 Festival du nouveau cinéma in International Panorama on 8 October,[9] then at 2023 BFI London Film Festival in 'Strand' section under 'Dare' theme on 12 October.[10]

Omen was released in Belgium cinemas on 15 November 2023 by Imagine Film.[11]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 83% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The critics' consensus reads: "Visually striking and hauntingly surreal, Omen makes up in mesmerizing imagery and ambition whatever it lacks in narrative legibility."[12]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film a score of four out of five stars, writing that the film explores and deconstructs the concept of a culture clash: "culture, heritage, nationality and identity are all shapeshifting concepts here. Perhaps Omen doesn't completely hang together but it is bold, risky, exciting film-making."[13] Rue Morgue's Michelle Martin praised the film's performances and visuals, and called it, "[a] stunning exploration of Congolese cultural beliefs posits that things that we deem 'occult' exist on the same plane as that which we view as 'scientific,' and the result is captivating."[14]

Peyton Robinson of RogerEbert.com gave the film three out of four stars, calling it "a visually enthralling piece of magical realism proposing ideas on pariahs, culture, and individuality in a world with constantly changing rules. But in devoting so much work to the aesthetic, it falls behind in making sense of its phantasmagoric storylines."[15] Beatrice Loayza of The New York Times characterized the film as ambitious, highlighting its "vivid symbolism" and, "In its best moments, a quiet element of absurdity [that] grounds the spectacle", but lamenting that "the film's frenetic world-building eventually becomes numbing, in part because the uneven human dramas—each one offers a vague message about marginalization—lose momentum in all the commotion."[16]

Awards

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Magritte Awards 9 March 2024 Best Supporting Actress[a] Yves-Marina Gnahoua Won [18]
Best Cinematography Joachim Philippe Won
Best Production Design Eve Martin Won
Best Costume Design Elke Hoste and Baloji Won
Best Original Score Baloji Won
Best Film Omen Nominated [19]
Best Director Baloji Nominated
Best Actor Marc Zinga Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Lucie Debay Nominated
Best Screenplay Baloji Nominated
Best First Feature Film Omen Nominated
Best Sound Jan Deca, Erik Griekspoor, Danny van Spreuwel and Vincent Nouaille Nominated
Best Editing Bruno Tracq and Bertrand Conard Nominated

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Shared with Sandrine Blancke for Love According to Dalva.

References

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  1. ^ "Omen (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  2. ^ Baloji (19 October 2023). "Omen". Cineuropa. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. ^ Debruge, Peter (27 May 2023). "Cannes Awards: 'Anatomy of a Fall' Takes Palme d'Or, 'The Zone of Interest' and 'The Pot au Feu' Among Winners". Variety. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. ^ Roxborough, Scott (14 September 2023). "Oscars: Belgium Picks 'Omen' as International Feature Submission". Hollywood Reporter.
  5. ^ Wolf, Ellen De (14 September 2023). "Shooting | Baloji en mots et en photos, pour les tendances Homme de l'automne". Weekend (in French). Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b ""Augure" by Baloji Tshiani Wins the New Voices Award at Cannes". ACP-EU Culture. 30 May 2023.
  7. ^ ""Augure" selected as Belgian Oscar entry". vrtnws.be. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  8. ^ "57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Horizons Omen". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  9. ^ "International Panorama: Omen". Festival du nouveau cinéma. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  10. ^ Ntim, Zac (31 August 2023). "BFI London Film Festival Full Lineup: 'The Book Of Clarence' World Premiere; Scorsese, Miyazaki, Lanthimos & Fincher Among Headline Galas". Deadline. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Omen awarded at Sitges!". WB Images. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Omen (2023, Drama)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  13. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (24 April 2024). "Omen (Augure) review – Baloji offers secrets and sorcery in Congolese homecoming". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  14. ^ Martin, Michelle (1 May 2024). "CUFF '24 Review: Genre-Blending "Omen" Conjures a Magical Reality". Rue Morgue. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  15. ^ Robinson, Peyton (26 April 2024). "Omen movie review & film summary (2024)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  16. ^ Loayza, Beatrice (11 April 2024). "'Omen' Review: Life in a Different Space-Time Continuum". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  17. ^ "56th Edition Award Winners". Sitges Film Festival. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  18. ^ Saint-Amand, François (8 March 2024). "Les Magritte du Cinéma 2024 : "Dalva" remporte sept Magritte dont le Meilleur film, découvrez le palmarès complet". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Nominations aux Magritte : un record pour le long-métrage 'Augure' de Baloji". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 23 February 2024.
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