Drama
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Steve Achiepo’s feature debut regarding a man who becomes a slum-dealer gets lost, trapped by his general friendliness.
As Animals which is released alongside this week, the Sandman opens with a party promise that he will not keep. The two films, if not diametrically opposed, begin with a reception, in the family and in the suburbs. Comings and goings, brushings, familiar exchanges, music and issues are filmed at length and attentively: Djo, divorced, father of a little girl and home delivery man, his guests, uncles and cousins from the Ivorian community, celebrate the anniversary of the matriarch in the apartment. Among the guests, a cousin and her three children who have come to find refuge in the party are in fact on the street, looking for a roof.
Steve Achiepo’s first feature film is therefore built according to an interesting principle of inclusion, themes and staging combined to shelter as many people as possible in the spaces, in the plan, in the apartment, refugees , migrants, downgraded, homeless, all the humanity of the film. Nice idea to expose the general subject of the film, promiscuity (imposed), by the proximity first agreed in the dance, the evening, the cramped spaces of the intimate.
Neither “good” enough nor crazy enough
Djo’s compassion and kindness in the face of his cousin’s distress will lead him to break the law, to become this slumber merchant, the “Sand seller” of the title. But, past the waltz-hesitation with her ex (Ophélie Bau, found following
