The Wrestlers (1982)

Set in a small village in the Congo, where one of the villagers’ favorite pastimes is either to watch or to take part in a form of very civilised "fighting" that involves two young men in loin cloths trying to flip the other to the ground. The action is over in a few seconds, and then another pair of fighters takes a turn, all the while reminded by the referee not to inflict hurt. An important match is coming up and the people in the village are backing their favourite, who spends his time in training with a Belgian coach, getting ready for the big day.

Jean-Michel TchissoukouDirector