| La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Djibril Diop Mambéty |
| Produced by | Djibril Diop Mambéty |
| Written by | Djibril Diop Mambéty |
| Music by | Wasis Diop |
| Cinematography | Jacques Besse |
| Editing by | Sarah Taouss-Matton |
| Distributed by | California Newsreel Productions |
| Release date(s) | February 1, 1999 (International Film Festival Rotterdam) |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Country | Senegal |
| Language | Wolof |
La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (or The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun) is a 1999 Senegalese short drama film, directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty which premiered posthumously after his death in 1998.
La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil is a film exalting the lives and promise found among ordinary Senegalese. It depicts a young beggar girl, Sili, who on crutches, confidently makes her way through a city of obstacles, becoming the first girl to sell a daily newspaper in the competitive world of young male newspaper vendors. Mambéty dedicated this last film to "the courage of street children". The scenes are expertly played by non-professional actors and with the participation of the street children.
It was screened as part of the International Forum of New Cinema section at the 49th Berlin Film Festival in 1999.
La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil was originally intended as the second film of a trilogy under the title, Tales of Ordinary People. However, Mambety’s untimely death in 1998 prevented the completion of the third film.
Contents |
The film depicts a young beggar girl, Sili, who on crutches, confidently makes her way through a city of obstacles, evading a group of bullies, and selling newspapers to make money for herself and her blind grandmother.
La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil debuted on 1 February 1999 at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and opened in other film festivals on the dates given below.
| Region | Release date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 1 February 1999 | International Film Festival Rotterdam |
| Germany | 20 February 1999 | Berlin International Film Festival[1] |
| New Zealand | 27 July 1999 | Wellington Film Festival |
| Canada | 12 September 1999 | Toronto International Film Festival |
| U.S.A | October 1999 | Chicago International Film Festival |
| Hong Kong | 21 April 2000 | Hong Kong International Film Festival |
| Norway | 1 May 2002 | Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival |
La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (The Little Girl who Sold the Sun) was released on DVD coupled with Le Franc and is distributed by California Newsreel Productions.[2]
Critical response to the film was mostly positive. Reviewer for The New York Times, A.O. Scott described the film as a "masterpiece of understated humanity".[3]
La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil earned various awards and nominations, with the nominations in categories ranging from recognition of the film itself to its screenplay, direction and editing, to the performance of the lead actor, Lissa Balera. It was selected as one of the ten best films of 2000 by the Village Voice.
| Year | Film Festival | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema | Special Mention | Acting | Lissa Balera | Won |
| International Biennal for Film Music | International Prize for Film and Media Music | Special Mention | Wasis Diop | Won | |
| Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film | ACCT Promotional Award | Best Actor/Actress of the South | Lissa Balera | Won | |
| Golden Bayard | Best Film (Meilleur Film Francophone) | Djibril Diop Mambéty | Nominated | ||
| Jury Special Prize | Djibril Diop Mambéty | Won | |||
| Procirep Award | Djibril Diop Mambéty | Won | |||
| 2000 | Aspen Shortsfest | The Ellen | Djibril Diop Mambéty | Won[4] | |
| Chicago International Children's Film Festival | Adult's Jury Award | Short Film or Video – Live-Action | Djibril Diop Mambéty | Won[5] | |
| Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival | Best Short | Djibril Diop Mambéty | Won |
|
|||||