Night of the Kings

Spectacular, thrilling, and absolutely unique, Night of the Kings is both an exhilarating tale of survival and a beautiful ode to the power of storytelling.

A young man is sent to Ivory Coast’s most ferocious prison, a place ruled by inmates and folkloric superstitions. As tradition goes with the rising of the red moon, he is designated by the Boss to be the new storyteller and must keep his fellow prisoners entertained with wild tales or risk his own life. Learning what fate awaits him, he begins to narrate the mystical life of the legendary outlaw named “Zama King” and has no choice but to make his story last until dawn. Incorporating ancient myths, song and dance (and a cameo by Denis Lavant), Philippe Lacôte’s visionary film pays tribute to the West African tradition of storytelling.

‘It’s an exhilarating mix of the gritty and the otherworldly, making for a film that’s both powerful and vastly entertaining.’ - Steve Morrissey, Radio Times

‘This is a film steeped in myth and ritual, besotted with secrets, history, and imagination — with a clear eye on the Ivory Coast’s politics.’ - K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone