Omen (2023 film)

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

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

  • 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

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

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

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

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

Notes

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

References

  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.

Read other articles:

Kutaisi

Kutaisi ქუთაისი BenderaLambangNegara GeorgiaRegion (Mkhare)ImeretiPemerintahan • Wali kotaDmitri KopalianiLuas • Total67,7 km2 (26,1 sq mi)Populasi (2014) • Total147.635Zona waktuUTC+4 (Georgian Time)Situs webkutaisi.gov.ge Kutaisi (bahasa Georgia: ქუთაისი) adalah kota terbesar kedua di Georgia. Penduduknya berjumlah 147.635 jiwa (2014). Artikel bertopik geografi ini adalah sebuah rintisan. Anda dapat...

 

الساحل بحري (قرية)

يفتقر محتوى هذه المقالة إلى الاستشهاد بمصادر. فضلاً، ساهم في تطوير هذه المقالة من خلال إضافة مصادر موثوق بها. أي معلومات غير موثقة يمكن التشكيك بها وإزالتها. (يونيو 2020) هذه المقالة تحتاج للمزيد من الوصلات للمقالات الأخرى للمساعدة في ترابط مقالات الموسوعة. فضلًا ساعد في تحسي...

 

Sepeda lambat

Sepeda lambat adalah salah satu lomba tradisional yang populer pada hari kemerdekaan Indonesia. Cara permainan Para peserta bersiap dengan sepeda masing-masing di garis permulaan dan berlomba untuk mencapai garis finish dalam lajur masing-masing. Namun, berbeda dan berlawanan dengan balap sepeda, pemenang sepeda lambat adalah peserta paling akhir yang mencapai garis finish. Karena sepeda hanya mempunyai dua roda, semakin lambat sepeda dikayuh, semakin sulit untuk menjaga keseimbangan, dan bil...

Philippe Levillain

Pour les articles homonymes, voir Levillain. Philippe LevillainFonctionPrésidentSociété de l’histoire de France2012Françoise Michaud-Fréjaville (d)Martine Constans (d)BiographieNaissance 27 novembre 194017e arrondissement de Paris (Paris, Île-de-France, France)Décès 4 octobre 2021 (à 80 ans)Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France)Sépulture Cimetière du Père-LachaiseNom de naissance Philippe Georges Bernard LevillainNationalité françaiseFormation École normale s...

 

Virginia Henry Curtiss Heckscher

Virginia Henry Curtiss HeckscherHeckscher in 1932BornVirginia Henry1875ViennaDiedJuly 11, 1941(1941-07-11) (aged 66)ManhattanKnown forPhilanthropistSpouses Edwin Burr Curtiss ​ ​(died 1928)​ August Heckscher ​ ​(m. 1930⁠–⁠1940)​ Virginia Henry Curtiss (1875 – July 11, 1941) was president of The Heckscher Foundation for Children and was a member of New York City's Child Welfare Board.[1 ...

 

Zange Meshi

Japanese manga series Zange MeshiFirst tankōbon volume coverざんげ飯GenreGourmet[1]Romantic comedy[1] MangaWritten byHatsumi KodamaPublished byKodanshaImprintMorning KCMagazineMorning (2020–2021)Comic Days (2020–2022)DemographicSeinenOriginal runMay 14, 2020 – December 21, 2022Volumes7 (List of volumes) Zange Meshi (ざんげ飯) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hatsumi Kodama. It was first irregularly published in Kodansha's seinen ma...

Guinean Americans

Americans of Guinean birth or descent This article is about US residents with origins in the Republic of Guinea. For the group of Americans formerly known as Guinea people, see Chestnut Ridge people. Guinean AmericansTotal population3,016 (ancestry or ethnic origin, 2000 US Census)[1] 11,000 (Guinean born, 2008–2009 US Census)[2]Regions with significant populationsMainly Washington, DC, New York City, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Illinois and Rhode IslandLanguagesMain American Engl...

 

Daftar suburban di Sydney

Gambar warna semu Landsat 7 di Sydney dan suburban sekitarnya. Gambar ini memperlihatkan bagaimana bangunan (merah jambu) telah dibatasi oleh Royal National Park di selatan, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park di utara, dan Blue Mountains National Park di barat (sebuah lingkaran yang mengikuti fitur geologis bernama Lapstone Monocline, membelah Blue Mountains dari Cumberland Plain). Letak suburban utama Sydney Berikut adalah daftar lengkap suburban dan permukiman di wilayah Sydney raya berdasarka...

 

Turn All the Lights On

2012 single by T-Pain featuring Ne-YoTurn All the Lights OnSingle by T-Pain featuring Ne-Yofrom the album RevolveЯ ReleasedJanuary 17, 2012Recorded2011GenreDance-pop[1]Length3:37LabelNappy BoyKonvictRCASongwriter(s)Faheem NajmLukasz GottwaldShaffer SmithHenry WalterProducer(s)Dr. LukeCirkutT-Pain singles chronology 5 O'Clock (2011) Turn All the Lights On (2012) So Listen (2012) Ne-Yo singles chronology Give Me Everything(2011) Turn All the Lights On(2012) Think Like a Man(201...

هنود

هنودمعلومات عامةنسبة التسمية الهند التعداد الكليالتعداد قرابة 1.21 مليار[1][2]تعداد الهند عام 2011ق. 1.32 مليار[3]تقديرات عام 2017ق. 30.8 مليون[4]مناطق الوجود المميزةبلد الأصل الهند البلد الهند  الهند نيبال 4,000,000[5] الولايات المتحدة 3,982,398[6] الإمار...

 

Северный морской котик

Северный морской котик Самец Научная классификация Домен:ЭукариотыЦарство:ЖивотныеПодцарство:ЭуметазоиБез ранга:Двусторонне-симметричныеБез ранга:ВторичноротыеТип:ХордовыеПодтип:ПозвоночныеИнфратип:ЧелюстноротыеНадкласс:ЧетвероногиеКлада:АмниотыКлада:Синапси...

 

Hier kommt Alex

Hier kommt AlexSingle by Die Toten Hosenfrom the album Ein kleines bisschen Horrorschau Released3 October 1988GenrePunk rockLength3:53LabelTotenkopfSongwriter(s)Andreas FregeAndreas MeurerDie Toten Hosen singles chronology Alle Mädchen wollen küssen (1987) Hier kommt Alex (1988) 1000 gute Gründe (1989) Hier kommt Alex (Here comes Alex) is a song by German punk band Die Toten Hosen. It is the first single and the first track from the album Ein kleines bisschen Horrorschau. The song in conce...

2020年夏季奧林匹克運動會波蘭代表團

2020年夏季奥林匹克运动会波兰代表團波兰国旗IOC編碼POLNOC波蘭奧林匹克委員會網站olimpijski.pl（英文）（波兰文）2020年夏季奥林匹克运动会（東京）2021年7月23日至8月8日（受2019冠状病毒病疫情影响推迟，但仍保留原定名称）運動員206參賽項目24个大项旗手开幕式：帕维尔·科热尼奥夫斯基（游泳）和马娅·沃什乔夫斯卡（自行车）[1]闭幕式：卡罗利娜·纳亚（皮划艇）&#...

 

Military Merit Order (Württemberg)

AwardMilitary Merit Order (Militärverdienstorden)Knight's Cross, obverseTypeMilitary orderAwarded forBravery and exceptionally meritorious deeds in combatDescriptionWhite enameled cross pattée with a white-enameled center medallion ringed in blue enamel.Presented byThe Kingdom of WürttembergEligibilityWürttemberg military officers and officers of allied statesStatusObsoleteEstablished11 February 1759 (as the Militär-Carls-Orden; renamed Militärverdienstorden on 11 November 1806)First aw...

 

Irish immigration to Montserrat

Irish immigration to Montserrat Irish immigration to Montserrat dates back to the early 17th century before and during the period of plantation owners and slavery. Montserrat is a Caribbean island and overseas territory of the United Kingdom. It is also known as The Emerald Isle of The Caribbean due to the large population of people with Irish descent living there.[1] Irish people first arrived to the island in 1632 and people of mixed race with Irish descent still live on the island....

علم الاجتماع السياسي

علم الاجتماع السياسيصنف فرعي من علم الاجتماع — علوم سياسية يمتهنه political sociologist (en) فروع sociology of voting (en) المواضيع political behavior (en) — نظام سياسي — نفوذ تعديل - تعديل مصدري - تعديل ويكي بيانات علم الاجتماع السياسي هو أحد الفروع الرئيسية في علم الاجتماع وأكثرها تطورا، فهو مصطلح حديث �...

 

Salah Abdeslam

Pour les articles homonymes, voir Abdeslam. Salah Abdeslam Terroriste islamiste Image d'une caméra de surveillance, quelques heures après les attentats de novembre 2015. Information Naissance 15 septembre 1989 (34 ans)Bruxelles, Belgique Nationalité Française[1],[2] Allégeance État islamique Condamnation 23 avril 2018 à Bruxelles29 juin 2022 à Paris Sentence 20 ans ferme (actes en Belgique), Réclusion criminelle à perpétuité incompressible (actes en France) Actions criminell...

 

Queen bee

Egg-laying individual in a bee colony For other uses, see Queen bee (disambiguation). Queen (marked) surrounded by Africanized workers A queen bee is typically an adult, mated female (gyne) that lives in a colony or hive of honey bees. With fully developed reproductive organs, the queen is usually the mother of most, if not all, of the bees in the beehive.[1] Queens are developed from larvae selected by worker bees and specially fed in order to become sexually mature. There is normall...

Norman Francis McFarland

Norman Francis McFarlandvescovo della Chiesa cattolica In veritate ambulare  Incarichi ricoperti Vescovo titolare di Bida (1970-1976) Vescovo ausiliare di San Francisco (1970-1976) Amministratore apostolico di Reno (1974-1976) Vescovo di Reno (1976) Vescovo di Reno-Las Vegas (1976-1986) Vescovo di Orange in California (1986-1998)  Nato21 febbraio 1922 a Martinez Ordinato presbitero15 giugno 1946 dall'arcivescovo John Joseph Mitty Nominato vescovo5 giugno 1970 da papa Paolo VI Consac...

 

Raw Tea

Raw Tea is a line of alcoholic malt beverages under Diageo's Smirnoff brand, available since 2006 and sold mostly on the US market.[1] It contains tea, and originally came in Lemon, Peach and Raspberry flavors. Green Tea was also recently added,[when?] in concert with a new promotion of an East vs. West competition, along with a new rap video.[2] Tea Partay The release of Raw Tea line was backed up by a viral advertising campaign, based around an online music video ti...