Demba
Qumra Screenings - Qumra 2025
Mamadou Dia / Senegal, Germany, Qatar / 2024 / 117 min / Colour / DCP2K / In Fulani, Pulaar / Arabic, English subtitles
Themes:
Rated: 
Mature subject matter. May not be suitable for minors. Individuals under the age of 15 are not admitted into cinemas
Dates And Timings
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Sat, Apr 5 - 7:30 PM
Museum of Islamic Art - Auditorium- Fee: 35 QAR
Description
Demba is about to retire after 30 years of service at the city hall in his small town in Northern Senegal. That hot summer, as the two-year anniversary of his wife's passing approaches, he realises he just can't "shake it off." As his mental health deteriorates, he discovers a new connection with his once-estranged son. Can Demba recover from his loss without losing himself? In a society where grief is expected to be endured in silence, 'Demba' is a rare and intimate exploration of mourning, masculinity, and mental health. Director Mamadou Dia crafts a deeply personal yet universally resonant story, posing a profound question—how does a culture without a word for "depression" address emotional suffering?
Through Demba's struggle, the film examines generational divides, the weight of unspoken pain, and the quiet strength required to confront loss. Shot in Dia's hometown of Matam, 'Demba' deftly adopts an almost lyrical visual language to convey its protagonist's internal turmoil. Mirrors, shifting colours, and blurred imagery reflect Demba's fractured state of mind, while dreamlike sequences muddy the lines between past and present. At once a meditation on sorrow and a celebration of resilience, 'Demba' is a potent cinematic statement on the unseen battles of grief and the quiet, transformative power of human connection.
Director
Mamadou Dia
Mamadou Dia is a Senegalese writer and director. His first feature 'Baamum Nafi' (Nafi’s Father, 2019) was Senegal’s Oscar entry for 2021 and won many awards, including two Golden Leopards for First Feature and Filmmakers of the Present at the Locarno International Film Festival. The film was also selected for MoMA/Lincoln Center’s 2020 New Directors/New Films, the 2019 TIFF Talent Lab and the 2018 Hubert Bals writing grant. Dia’s short film 'Samedi Cinema' premiered at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals in 2016 and received dozens of awards. Dia is co-founder of the production company Joyedidi, which organises mobile screenings across Senegal. Mamadou is a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow.
Credits
- Screenwriter
- Mamadou Dia
- Producer
- Maba Ba, Oumy Djegane Niang, Nicole Gerhards, Johanna Aust
- Cinematographer
- Sheldon Chau
- Editor
- Alan Wu
- Music
- John Corlis
- Cast
- Ben Mahmoud Mbow, Awa Djiga Kane, Mamadou Sylla, Aicha Talla, Saikou Lo