The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

The Political Mysteries of Saint Omer’s Female Characters

The bold adaption of a harrowing court case.

by Britt Trachtenberg January 13, 2023
by Britt Trachtenberg January 13, 2023 0 comments
1.6K

Director Alice Diop identified the analysis of complex Black women as political acts. Long medium shots allowed the audience to process difficult, authentic emotions.

On January 9, the magnificent Soho House New York screened Saint Omer (2022) in a cozy, dimly-lit room. A Q&A Session and indulgent reception followed the screening.

The film won Venice International Film’s Silver Lion and Lion of the Future prizes. Also, the film won at France’s Prix Louis Delluc. Amrita Daivd, Marie Ndiaye, and Diop wrote the award-winning film. Claire Manthon produced introspective cinematography. Srab Films produced and Super distributed the media. The Hollywood Reporter’s Lovia Gyarkye called the movie “spellbinding.”

Diop’s Saint Omer depicted the successful Parisian journalist Rama. She traveled to Saint Omer to attend Laurence Coly’s trial. Rama hopes to write a book about this case. Laurence allegedly murdered her child, but she cannot or will not state her motivations. Instead, she claims that a spell affected her. Rama sees connections to her own life. The project unraveled as Rama dealt with childhood trauma.

At the film’s opening, Rama ate in her familial Paris home. The film cuts to wide-shots of a silent, older woman. After the meal, the woman leaves. At this point, the viewer did not know this woman’s identity. Rama’s partner, Adrian, suggested that the two women talk. Brilliantly, Diop did not reveal why Rama refuses. Later in the film, the viewer saw Laurence’s similar storyline. It informs Rama’s own pain.

Previously residing in Senegal, Laurence attended school in Paris. Due to a familial death, she took a leave of absence. Laurence did not go back to college until she met Luc Dumonent. The pair fell in love and moved in together. According to her, Luc never introduced Laurence to his family. After delivering his baby, Laurence never takes her outside. In her perplexing testimony, Laurence discussed how she drowned the baby. She gave hypocritical answers as to why.

In a poignant shot, Rama vomited in the hotel toilet. The film silently established her pregnancy. In an over-the-shoulder shot, she looked into the mirror. It offers a moment of retrospection. Then, the movie cut to a close-up of Laurence’s face. She angrily gazed out at the courtroom. Though later in the film, this brilliant transition establishes the women’s connections through motherhood and trauma.

In a court scene, the two women make eye contact. Laurence smiles at Rama, who looks away. In the next scene, Rama cried in a fetal position on a hotel bed. The film cuts to flashbacks of a silent mother, who sat on a colorful bedspread. She wore bantu braids in her hair. A younger Rama joins her. The silence that ensued spoke so many words. The scene highlights Rama’s fear. She tells Adrian that she doesn’t think she will become a “good” mother.

After this scene, the viewer understood the silent, older woman’s role: Rama’s mother. The two do not speak, despite Adrian’s suggestions. Here, one woman indirectly revealed another’s radically-different truth. It remains unclear why Rama and her mother do not speak. The film cuts to a close-up of the mother. Her only line is “so tired, so tired.” This could reveal her dissatisfaction with family or race relations in Paris.

The aforementioned scenes revealed the film’s purpose: political and feminist acts. Rama grew up in Paris while Laurence experienced youth in Senegal. Both identify as Black women. Diop based the film on Fabienne Kobou’s real-life trial. Diop attended the court hearings, where Kobou delivered a mysterious testimony. Through Diop’s film, viewers must listen to a similar, strange story.

In the Q&A, Diop mentioned the film’s narrative qualities. She chose not to direct a documentary because the real-life trial already occurred. A fictionalized account allowed her to emphasize Laurence’s unclarity and mystery. Laurence and Luc’s vastly different testimonies fascinated me. Laurence discusses neglect, while Luc mentions her jealousy. Diop said, “We ended up inventing scenes as a result of an extremely difficult and personal exchange.”

Guslagie Malanda (Laurence Coly) discussed her on-set experiences. Moderator Lovia Gyarkye asked how she prepared for her role. Malanda said that she took meditation classes. On set, she better controlled her breath. During long shots, she stared into the camera. Poetically, she added, “Breathing is life.”

Female LeadPoliticalSaint Omer
0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Britt Trachtenberg

previous post
Exclusive: Celebrity Event Planner Mindy Weiss to Show People How to Host a Seedlip Soirée
next post
Exclusive: Filmmaker Foustene Fortenbach Talks New Movie ‘Dried Flowers’ [Interview]

Related Posts

Bernadette Peters, Sutton Foster & Leslie Odom Jr....

October 22, 2025

James Callis, Shaul Metzstein & Nick Mohammed Talks...

October 21, 2025

AIF 2025 Festival Opens with Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet

October 21, 2025

Techno and Tragedy in Oliver Laxe’s Sirat

October 21, 2025

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Joel Kim Booster Talk...

October 20, 2025

NMIXX Explores All ‘Shapes of Love’ in Their...

October 20, 2025

LA Premiere: HBO’s The Chair Company 

October 19, 2025

A Toast to Ja Rule’s Amber &Opal Whiskey...

October 19, 2025

Building Hip Hop’s Forever Home: The Hip-Hop Museum’s...

October 17, 2025

Justin Bieber Leads SKYLRK to Victory at LA’s...

October 17, 2025

Digital Cover No. 19

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

theknockturnal

Lifestyle. Music. Entertainment.
Info@theknockturnal.com
New Cover Out Now ⬇️

Step inside the chaotic world of The Chair Company Step inside the chaotic world of The Chair Company, where office life meets absurd comedy. 🪑 
Stream it now on @HBO. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/la-premiere-hbos-the-chair-company/

✍️: Katherine Wright
-
#TheChairCompany #HBO #HBOOriginal #HBOShow #BingeWorthy #MustWatch #StreamingNow
@justinbieber led @skylrk to a standout win at The @justinbieber led @skylrk to a standout win at The Leag, one of LA’s most talked-about underground sports events. With celebrities, athletes, and creators filling the sidelines, the night captured the energy of competition and culture colliding under the lights. 🏀

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/justin-bieber-leads-skylrk-to-victory-at-las-underground-sports-phenomenon-the-league/

✍️: Parris Rose

-
#JustinBieber #SKYLRK #TheLeag #LosAngeles #SportsCulture #Basketball #UndergroundSports
@nmixx_official spoke with The Knockturnal about t @nmixx_official spoke with The Knockturnal about their journey as six members, a long, inspiring adventure that’s led them to a major milestone: their first-ever full-length album, Blue Valentine. 💙

The project dives deep into the complexity of human emotions, wrapped in NMIXX’s signature MIXX-pop sound. 🎶

“The story of NMIXX is still unfolding.” 

Full Article 🔗 https://theknockturnal.com/nmixx-blue-valentine/

By @EmmaSalehi 

#NMIXX #BlueValentine #NMIXXBlueValentine #MIXXPOP #NMIXXComeback #KpopInterview #TheKnockturnal #Kpop #KpopNews #KpopGirlGroup #NMIXX_BlueValentine #HAEWON #LILY #BAE #JIWOO #KYUJIN #SULLYOON #엔믹스
Want to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Want to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of @beetlejuicebway? Now you can! From now until Halloween, @tempotimessquare hosting an unforgettable Beetlejuice Suite experience where every corner is bursting with spooky charm, strange surprises, and a whole lot of Netherworld flair. 💀✨ 

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a little strange and unusual, this is your chance to step into the world of the ghost with the most. 👻 #BeetlejuiceBroadway #TempoTimesSquare #BeetlejuiceSuite
#ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when y #ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when you least expect it — and flinch when you do. 👀💥

Full review out now.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/park-chan-wooks-no-other-choice-is-dark-gripping-and-bitingly-funny/

✍️: Ishan Wankavala 

-
#NoOtherChoice #KoreanCinema #Cinephile #FilmReview #NewRelease #MustWatch
📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining 📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining boundaries with each track, image, and evolution. Dive into our exclusive to uncover the artistry behind the name. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/woodz/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#Woodz #Kpop #ArtistSpotlight #Editorial
EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to elect EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to electrifying new heights, bringing “I WANT IT” to life with unmatched energy, confidence, and flair. Every beat, every move, every note is a reminder that STAYC don’t just perform—they command the stage. 🌈💥

From their glowing visuals to powerhouse vocals, @stayc_highup deliver a night that’s equal parts spectacle and soul.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/stayc/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#STAYC #StayTunedTour #IWANTIT #STAYCgirls #STAYChighup #Kpop #ConcertHighlights #ExclusiveFeature
Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new film, exploring its unique darkness. 🌟

#ParkChanWook #NoOtherChoice #TheAx #KoreanFilm #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook tea Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook teases his probable upcoming project Genocidal Organ! 

#ParkChanWook #GenocidalOrgan #NYFF #NYFF26
Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in his latest film @nootherchoicefilm. 🖤🎬

#LeeByungHun #NoOtherChoice #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun refl Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun reflects on 20 years of film, from South Korea to Hollywood! 

#LeeByungHun #Hollywood #KoreanCinema #Film #NoOtherChoice #NYFF26 #NYFF
Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what it means to move forward together in their latest comeback. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/cix/

✍️: Emma Salehi

Photo Credits: C9 Entertainment 
-
#CIX #GOChapter1 #GOTogether #TheKnockturnal #KpopInterview #KpopNews #CIXComeback #CIX2025 #KpopFeature #CIXFans
It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North Ameri It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North America on their ‘Stay Tuned’ tour! 💖

Watch their energetic and fun filled show near you 👀🌟

#stayc #kpop #kpopconcert #iwantit #staycstaytuned #staytuned
Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷 We had the most a Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷

We had the most amazing day of inspiring panels, activations and networking at @femalefounderworld, with @eyebuydirect! 👓
Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joa Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joachim Trier for their sixth cinematic journey, co-writing Sentimental Value, a poignant exploration of family, memory, and reconciliation. 

-
#Screenwriting #Storytelling #WritingForFilm #FilmWriting #NYFF2025 #NewYorkFilmFestival #IndieFilm
At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to l At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to life in Sentimental Value, portraying a character whose journey through family complexities and personal discovery resonates deeply. 

-
#RenateReinsve #NYFF #SentimentalValue #NoraBorg #FilmFestival #Actress
@nobledanceroslo at @thenyff shares his vision as @nobledanceroslo at @thenyff shares his vision as a director, bringing his story to life with precision, collaboration, and attention to every frame. 

The film reflects his dedication to emotion, storytelling, and cinematic craft. 🎥

-
#JoachimTrimmer #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #Director #Filmmaking
We spoke with @ingalilleaas at @thenyff about the We spoke with @ingalilleaas at @thenyff about the emotional process behind her latest film. ✨

-
#IngaIbsdotterLilleaas #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #Cinema
Poised, perceptive, and endlessly compelling — @ Poised, perceptive, and endlessly compelling — @ellefanning in conversation at this year’s @thenyff.

-
#ElleFanning #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #RedCarpet #Cinema
✨ From powerful panels to unforgettable performa ✨ From powerful panels to unforgettable performances, the 2025 #TeenVogueSummit brought together voices shaping fashion, culture, and activism today. 💬🎶

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/2025-teen-vogue-summit-recap-full-of-fun-fashion-and-connection/

✍️: Zipporah Pruitt

-
#TeenVogue #TeenVogueSummit2025 #TeenVogueEvents
#TeenVogueCommunity #TeenVogueStyle
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch