The Draughtsmen Clash (Le Damier – Papa national oyé!) is a 1996 film directed by Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Draughtsmen Clash
Directed byBalufu Bakupa-Kanyinda
Screenplay byBalufu Bakupa-Kanyinda
Produced byCentrale Productions Dipanda Yo ! Cenaci Myriapodus Films
StarringDieudonné Kabongo Yves Mba Pascal N'Zonzi Jean LaCroix Kamba Djibril Nguemongwa
CinematographyRoland Duboze
Edited byVictor Howcq
Music bySo Kalmer
Release date
  • 1996 (1996)
Running time
40 minutes
CountryDemocratic Republic of the Congo

Synopsis

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The Draughtsmen Clash is a wicked political satire about African dictators. It tells the story of the president of a fictitious African nation who spends a sleepless night playing checkers with a pot-smoking vagabond who claims to be the all-round champion. However, the rules of the game entail the opponents howling vulgar and foul obscenities at one another. The champion proceeds to insult, and trounce, the President. His reward, and his fate, will not surprise anyone.

Awards

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  • Fespaco (Uagadugú) 1997
  • Festival de Villeurbanne 1997
  • Reel Black Talent Award (Toronto) 1997
  • Festival Francófono de Namur 1998
  • National Black Programming Award (Filadelfia) 1998
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