Family and sorcery in D R Congo
Daniel Nelson
‘Nominative determinism’ is the idea that people tend to gravitate towards areas of work that fit their names. So perhaps it’s not surprising that Congolese rapper Baloji’s first film is Omen.
The film is about several characters who are called ‘witches’. And Baloji means “sorcerer”, or even “sorcerer who can take all the other sorcerers’ powers”.
“Because of my name,” he explains, “and because people used to label me as a sorcerer, I’ve always been fascinated by witchcraft, and by people who are seen as different.”
The film’s a stunner, with some powerful images.
A central thread is a character, Koffi, who like Baloji, has lived for nearly two decades in Belgium. He decides to visit Democrratic Republic of Congo with his pregnant wife to make peace with his family, particularly his mother, who rejected him for fear of the meaning of the large birthmark on his face.
So there’s tension from the start. It rises with the couple’s first glimpses of Congo and their first awkward experiences, and escalatres rapidly when he gets a nosebleed that drips onto his newborn nephew — provoking a hysterical reaction. The “treatment” which he has to undergo for this terrible act is itself dramatically terrifying.
The disturbing imagery — gathered from various countries — also features in the story of another of the four main characters: Paco, a boy sent away by his parents. He makes a living by doing tricks and performances on the streets. Baloji has a long involvement with costume design and the visual arts, and it shows.
Clashes between tradition and modernity occur are another theme. Koffi’s sister, for example, ends up seeking medical help from a traditional priest. Balloji has said the the sister is the film’s key character.
Balloji, however, has tried to veer away from conventional plots and story-tellijng. The film is best enjoyed as a fascinating, colourful, image-rich, kaleidoscopic spectacle with touches of magical realism, out of which issues emerge, such as women’s status and children’s attitudes to parents.
Omen opens in cinemas on 26 April 2024. Director Baloji will tour the UK for Q&As after Q&As on 26 April, BFI Southbank, 27 April, Somerset House, 28 April, Picturehouse Ritzy (screening until 2 May), 30 April, Garden Cinema, 1 May, ICA (screening until 2 May); also Hackney Picturehouse until 30 April