Garderie nocturne

In the district town of Bobo-Dioulasso, near Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, sex workers entrust their children to Ms Coda, an elderly woman who has been taking care of countless such charges for decades while their mothers take to the streets at night to work. Over the years, filmmaker Moumouni Sanou has managed to gain the trust of everyone involved in this unique set-up, together with a huge amount of insight into the lives of Odile and Farida, both of whom rely on Ms Coda’s services. He tenderly observes all aspects of their situation, including domestic work, downtime and the most intimate moments of motherhood, as well as their relationship to Ms Coda and how she raises their children. Female experience is at the heart of the film, and men and the fathers of these children remain absent, except in the stories Farida and Odile share of their sex work while at home in their leisure time, which range from amusing to deeply harrowing. Sanou’s careful, respectful gaze makes this film a true testimony to the virtues of horizontal filmmaking, with its heightened sense of attention and sensitivity to the protagonists felt throughout.