Synopsis

Princess of Africa introduces the audience to two different princesses and their dreams. Marem is a 14-year-old girl from Senegal who studies dance and dreams of performing in Europe when she is older. Sonia is a professional dancer from Spain who is fascinated by African culture and creativity, and desires to experience an African lifestyle. The two women are connected in Pap Ndiaye, a master griot (musician) who splits his time between Senegal and Europe. Marem is his daughter, and Sonia has just married Pap in Spain. Both women will find their dreams in the course of the film, but each at a price. When Sonia arrives in Africa, she finds the vibrant colors and rhythms that have inspired her performances are intact, but she is faced with the realization that she is not the only wife of Pap Ndiaye. In fact, she is his third wife and she must come to terms with her expectations of marriage in an African society. Marem sees the other side of the coin. Her vision of Europe is utopian, and the actual visit is a surprising revelation for her. A celebrated portrait of African life, it is a beautiful documentary full of love between people and ideas while sharing an intoxicating vision of how music and dance are woven into the cultural aesthetic. ​​

Director

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  • Juan Laguna
  • Juan Laguna, a director, screenwriter, composer, and producer, was born in Madrid in 1980. In 2002, he created his first documentary Bereberia with Julián Franco, which was broadcast on Spanish Television (TVE). His third documentary The Dreaming Dancer won awards at the New York African Film Festival, the Malaga Film Festival, and the Montreal Film Festival.