Xime

International coproduction of The Netherlands, France, Guinée-Bissau, Cap Vert.

In XIME, set in the village with that name in then Portuguese colony Guinea Bissau in the 1960's, the rice peasant Iala is confronted with losing the authority over his two sons.

With the help of Vittorio, the ltalian priest from the little village school, his elder son Raul has been sent to the seminary in the big city. No one knows that he has, in fact, joined the liberation movement against the Portuguese colonial regime.

Bedan, the younger son, staying behind in the village, is in opposition to the traditional authority of the village elders.
Moreover, he is also secretly in love with his father's young bride to be!

The village chief Queba Mané advises lala to move forward the date of his intended marriage.
At the same time, he orders Bedan to subject himself to the traditional rites of manhood and initiation into love.

The colonial authorities are also in turmoil. The Portuguese administrator of Xime Cunha, realises that among his subjects more is brewing than the constant obedience of his house servant would make him believe.

When Raul returns to Xime, events escalate.
In the end, they rapidly lead to violence and force everyone to make a choice.

‍Variety
"...The very name of the 'Un Certain Regard' section describes this year's selection of Sana Na N'Hada's
beautifully photographed film well: XIME does present 'a certain look'..."