Latest news with #Dakar
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Zero review – Senegalese time-bomb thriller is a blast
Set in Senegal's capital Dakar, this action thriller is so strikingly shot, so propulsively edited and so confident in its tonal shifts that by the end viewers are likely to feel enervated and stunned, but in a good way. It has one of those literal ticking-time-bomb narratives; a corny device to be sure, but one that Congolese writer-director Jean Luc Herbulot, with assistance from main actor and co-writer Hus Miller, manipulates in fresh and interesting ways. Certainly it will inspire some viewers to take a plunge into Herbulot's back catalogue, which includes festival-anointed gangster-horror flick Saloum, another adept genre mash-up set in Senegal. The conceit here is that Miller's white, American-accented unnamed protagonist, called simply #1 in freeze-framed titles, wakes up on a Dakar bus with a sophisticated bomb strapped to his chest that is set to go off in 10 hours' time. The bomb is connected to a countdown-displaying mobile phone, and a young woman sitting nearby explains to him that he needs to put a Bluetooth earpiece in his ear and answer when he hears the phone ring. When it does, a croaky American-accented voice (Willem Dafoe, no less!) explains that #1 has a number of chores to perform that day before the bomb goes off. Soon he's hooked up with another bomb-bedecked American called #2 (Cam McHarg) and the two of them are sent on missions around the city. These tasks include finding assorted folks and giving them objects that in at least one case result in the recipient being blown up by another mini-bomb. The explosions are understandably interpreted as terrorist acts, breathlessly reported on the local news that acts as a sort of chorus throughout (another corny device), so #1 and #2 have to evade capture by both legitimate authorities and angry crowds. There are lighter moments along the way, like a bit where the two bomb-bearing protagonists are compelled to sniff metres of cocaine to appease a drug lord; they get so high that the film erupts into montage, backed by some spicy African hip-hop, resulting in an interlude that doesn't further the plot much and seems to exist primarily to appeal to a young male demographic. But the tone shifts towards something more serious and considered later on when we meet the duo's final assignation, Daniel (Gary Dourdan), who pulls the strands together with a polemical monologue set against another montage, this time showing filmed portraits of Dakar residents looking straight at the camera with blank expressions that might be accusatory or at least questioning, representing perhaps all the regular folk who suffer when nations and parties jostle in the streets over politics and control. Elsewhere, Herbulot and the camera department deploy drones to create all kinds of skewwhiff long-distance views of the action, while creative use of camera lenses create a sense of disorientation. It's all in service of depicting a modern African city full of relentless colour, texture and movement, an unceasing river of human traffic that weaves through dense residential areas, huge piles of debris, and areas of commerce – before reaching the Atlantic Ocean on the city's edge. This last setting is where the dark climax takes place, a finale that doesn't entirely pull off the tragic ending it's aiming for, but one that stays true to the film's intense energy. Zero is in UK cinemas from 25 July and on digital platforms from 11 August.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Zero review – Senegalese time-bomb thriller is a blast
Set in Senegal's capital Dakar, this action thriller is so strikingly shot, so propulsively edited and so confident in its tonal shifts that by the end viewers are likely to feel enervated and stunned, but in a good way. It has one of those literal ticking-time-bomb narratives; a corny device to be sure, but one that Congolese writer-director Jean Luc Herbulot, with assistance from main actor and co-writer Hus Miller, manipulates in fresh and interesting ways. Certainly it will inspire some viewers to take a plunge into Herbulot's back catalogue, which includes festival-anointed gangster-horror flick Saloum, another adept genre mash-up set in Senegal. The conceit here is that Miller's white, American-accented unnamed protagonist, called simply #1 in freeze-framed titles, wakes up on a Dakar bus with a sophisticated bomb strapped to his chest that is set to go off in 10 hours' time. The bomb is connected to a countdown-displaying mobile phone, and a young woman sitting nearby explains to him that he needs to put a Bluetooth earpiece in his ear and answer when he hears the phone ring. When it does, a croaky American-accented voice (Willem Dafoe, no less!) explains that #1 has a number of chores to perform that day before the bomb goes off. Soon he's hooked up with another bomb-bedecked American called #2 (Cam McHarg) and the two of them are sent on missions around the city. These tasks include finding assorted folks and giving them objects that in at least one case result in the recipient being blown up by another mini-bomb. The explosions are understandably interpreted as terrorist acts, breathlessly reported on the local news that acts as a sort of chorus throughout (another corny device), so #1 and #2 have to evade capture by both legitimate authorities and angry crowds. There are lighter moments along the way, like a bit where the two bomb-bearing protagonists are compelled to sniff metres of cocaine to appease a drug lord; they get so high that the film erupts into montage, backed by some spicy African hip-hop, resulting in an interlude that doesn't further the plot much and seems to exist primarily to appeal to a young male demographic. But the tone shifts towards something more serious and considered later on when we meet the duo's final assignation, Daniel (Gary Dourdan), who pulls the strands together with a polemical monologue set against another montage, this time showing filmed portraits of Dakar residents looking straight at the camera with blank expressions that might be accusatory or at least questioning, representing perhaps all the regular folk who suffer when nations and parties jostle in the streets over politics and control. Elsewhere, Herbulot and the camera department deploy drones to create all kinds of skewwhiff long-distance views of the action, while creative use of camera lenses create a sense of disorientation. It's all in service of depicting a modern African city full of relentless colour, texture and movement, an unceasing river of human traffic that weaves through dense residential areas, huge piles of debris, and areas of commerce – before reaching the Atlantic Ocean on the city's edge. This last setting is where the dark climax takes place, a finale that doesn't entirely pull off the tragic ending it's aiming for, but one that stays true to the film's intense energy. Zero is in UK cinemas from 25 July and on digital platforms from 11 August.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Acwa signs Senegal renewable desalination project deals
Acwa Power has signed key project agreements with the Government of Senegal for the Grande-Côte seawater desalination project. The project, powered by renewable energy, is set to secure up to 400,000 m³ of potable water per day for Dakar and its surrounding areas. With a total investment of approximately $800 million, the Grande-Côte Project represents the largest desalination initiative ever undertaken in West Africa. The project will be delivered in two phases, each providing 200,000 m³/day of desalinated water. Financial close is expected to be achieved by 2026 and full commercial operations by 2031. The Grande-Côte Project is structured as a long-term partnership with SONES, aiming to strengthen Senegal's water infrastructure and resilience. Its full reliance on green electricity, sourced from Senegal's national grid through a dedicated supply agreement with state-owned electricity company SENELEC, positions it as one of the few large-scale desalination plants globally to operate entirely on renewable energy. Raad Al Saady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Acwa Power, commented: "The signing of these crucial agreements for the Grande-Côte seawater desalination project underscores Acwa Power's unwavering commitment to sustainable development and our role as a trusted partner in addressing global water challenges. We are incredibly proud to collaborate with the Government of Senegal and SONES to bring this vital infrastructure to fruition, securing a sustainable water future for Dakar and its communities, and setting a new benchmark for environmentally responsible desalination worldwide." The signing ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, saw the formalisation of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract and the Accord de Soutien de l'État or Government Support Agreement (GSA).
Argaam
6 days ago
- Business
- Argaam
ACWA Power inks $800M desalination deals with Senegal
ACWA Power Co. signed several agreements with Senegal's government for the Grande Côte desalination plant. In an emailed statement to Argaam, the Saudi utility said this project is the largest desalination imitative in West Africa with total investment of up to $800 million. The project will be implemented in two phases with a production capacity of 200,000 cubic meters/day each of desalinated water. The large-scale project, which will be entirely powered by renewable energy, aims to supply up to 400,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day to Senegal's capital, Dakar, and the surrounding areas, in order to enhance water security in the region. The financial close of the project is expected by 2026, with full commercial operations set to begin by 2031. The project represents a long-term strategic partnership with Senegal's National Water Co. and is anticipated to play a key role in improving the country's water infrastructure and boosting its resilience, ACWA Power added. The Grand Côte project will rely entirely on green energy sourced from Senegal's national grid under a special supply agreement. The project is considered among the few desalination initiatives globally to be fully powered by renewable energy.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
France withdraws from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa
The French military completed its withdrawal from Senegal on Thursday, the last West African country where it maintained a permanent troop presence, amid waning regional influence in recent years. Advertisement France has faced opposition from leaders of some of its former colonies in Africa over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach to the continent. The French military handed over Camp Geille, its largest base in Senegal, along with a nearby air facility, to the Senegalese government during a ceremony in the capital, Dakar. General Pascal Ianni, head of French forces in Africa, said the handover marked a new phase in military ties. French and Senegalese military at the ceremony. Photo: AFP 'It is part of France's decision to end permanent military bases in West and Central Africa, and responds to the Senegalese authorities' desire to no longer host permanent foreign forces on their territory,' he said.
