[Slokais]

Film Title (English and/or Native): The Universe Beyond (Linivè a Beyond)
Nominating Nation: Kolda
Nomination Category/Categories: Best Supporting Actor, Best Costume Design
Language: French (Dubbed into Arabic, English, and Kango)
Run Time: 103 minutes
Director: Paul Soumanou Basa
Film Rating: (13: LRL), 18+ Restricted (Kolda): Sexual content, violence, divisive themes
Producing Studio/Company: Rivière Verte Productions
Primary Cast:
Aissatou Goudiaby as Captain Sébastien Desrosiers
Sokhna Bousso as N’eane
Jean-Baptiste Pascal as First Engineer Julien deColbere
Angelique Okosu as Private Modestine Yatabare

The Universe Beyond is set within the same sci-fi universe at the 2023 IDU Film Festival Nominee, Harvest Moon, and was largely released due to the instant success of the film within Kolda. Much smaller in scale, the Universe Beyond is almost entirely contained in a spaceship known as the New Dawn. Built to carry, settlers and supplies to a new colony, the New Dawn rescues a “space nomad” named N’eane. These nomads are often addicted to a substance called “Nuala”, and thus there are many questions for Captain Desrosies (Goudiaby) from his crew. Despite this, Desrosies gives N’eane a room within the crowded ship. N’eane begins to covert the vast underclass of the ship, mainly made of servants or industrial workers to the minority settler population. N’eane proclaims they are the chosen people of God and the planet Yanara is there for the taking.

To the knowledge of no one but the audience, N’eane is the Scribe of “Harvest Moon” and seeks to re-take his home world by taking over the massive ship and using its weapons to destroy the mining colony that was built there. First Engineer DeColbere, who works in the underbelly of the ship takes a liking to their cause and brings up some of their more moderate demands to Captain Desroises. Meanwhile, Desrosiers deals with his internal struggle of his upbringing in the lower-class before rising to captain. The wealthy settlers meanwhile, see the religious practices of the lower classes are exotic and don’t see the threat of N’eane. In the final act, N’eane launches a revolt, brutally executing the upper classes and taking control of the ship. Captain Desroises along with Private Yatabare remain some of the few survivors by sealing themselves off in the bridge. They send out a distress signal yet are unlikely to hear a response before their oxygen runs out leading to an extended conversation about the nature of religion, the Empire, and their duties. The film ends with the two destroying the bridge to prevent it’s takeover.

What makes this film special? Why was it nominated for this/these category/categories?

Sokhna Bousso makes his return as the Scribe who has taken upon a new name, as he converted to Christianity during his many months in the escape pod. Bousso excellently captures the charismatic nature of his character as a leader but also a ruthless fighter. This is Bousso’s second nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actor

With the same creative team behind the unique costumes of Harvest Moon, the in-house team of Rivière Verte Productions continues to create rich costumes that tell a story. The blue and slick nature of the New Dawn crew’s uniform invokes colonialism, while the clothes of the lower class while simple in cost, showcase a unique background of traditional craftwork within a futuristic context.


Any additional info (optional, short paragraph maximum):
Paul Soumanou Basa has once again found himself in controversy in Kolda, as the Universe Beyond was denied a film rating for the reason of “divisive themes”. In reality, the similarity of N’eane to members of the Diawara Faith has drawn critics who burned DVDs of the film in protest. Despite this, the film was cleared for release with the highest rating of 18+, meaning the film could not be shown to under 18s. The film also saw an international release in Slokais Islands a few months later but with only an SA-16 rating.