Opinion : Major “Accord” by Thérèse Ngono

If we already knew Thérèse Ngono as a good actress given the impressive number of productions in which she played, L’ACCORD by Frank Thierry Lea Malle revealed to us a great actress. Thérèse in her role as a mother of children is simply sublime in this film impeccably directed by the Cameroonian director. L’ACCORD plunges us into a Cameroonian society where everyone recognizes each other, two mothers with different statuses each express their love for their offspring in their own way..

 

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The authenticity of the situations, socio-cultural and even political conflicts that are highlighted without artifice borders on reality. This with more or less visible clues that the author uses to denounce a disrupted social environment. We see the ridiculousness of these heels worn by the mayor embodied by Reine Mpouadina, sinking into the mud and the corridors of the sub-districts, to go and negotiate a situation that has become critical. A metaphor for the high society in power who should “change things” bowing to a threatening situation.

It is a cry from the director launched against the face of these people who hold power and money, forgetting that not everyone sells their conscience despite the gap. And that on the contrary it can rather create revolts going as far as the intention of murder like that of the father, embodied with accuracy by Moussa Sindjah, who sees the life of his only child who goes to school (embodied by Vanessa Ambassa) be totally broken. A situation that contrasts with that of this rich father who rapes a little girl “hope of a whole family”, and wants to stifle the situation with money and go unpunished.

The specificity of these social conflicts is thrown in our face, at a time when words are no longer used to express themselves, when there is a growing gap between those who have lost hope and those who still believe in it. . A universe where adolescents and young people who are out of phase and in the midst of a crisis must hold our full attention.

On the artistic level, a certain bow is drawn to the costume designer, the hairdresser and the make-up artist who were able to put the distance between the different characters. The attire of the characters was seen as a reflection of their characters, their social and historical affiliation, or even their psychological state. A set of useful choices made with the director which gives a unique cachet to the film.

 

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In the grand premiere room at the Palais de Congrès in Yaoundé and later in the various screening rooms, the public identified themselves and entered the film with great freedom. Sharing more or less intensely the lives of the characters, going so far as to experience sometimes very strong emotions in front of certain sequences. Each character in the plot prompting a speech and a position. A special mention to Thérèse and Reine whose respective characters are the prototypes of strong Cameroonian women who do not always rely on men to get by.

Congratulations to FT LEA Malle, Congratulations to the entire Production team.

Élise Kameni*

*Élise Kameni is a Critic member of Cinépress (association of Cameroonian film critics), she is also the president of ADAMIC (the association of ladies of the image in Cameroon).