Icecapade Frozen Treats

45/46

Tale

The journey of 26 royal treasures looted from the Kingdom of Dahomey exhibited in Paris and now to be returned to Benin. Diop artistically expresses the demands of a new generation. The documentary, elevated by a poetic background, recounts the journey of historical artefacts returning from France to Benin. It highlights the debates among the Beninese on the significance of this event, displaying a broad spectrum of perspectives. Particularly captivating is the technique of narrating from the artefact’s point of view, adding depth and complexity to the audience’s understanding. From a technical point of view, the project is exceptionally well crafted, impressing with its image quality, its thoughtful pace and its fascinating sound that would have helped to form an opinion on the discussions presented by the Beninese in the film. However, it is clear that the filmmaker did not set out to offer a complete overview of the current state of the country.