In 1759, the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean is under French colonial rule. The enslaved population working in the sugar cane plantations live in constant fear. Among them, 16-year-old Mati (Anna Diakhere Thiandoum) refuses to accept her fate. Unlike her father Massamba (Ibrahima Mbaye), who has grown disillusioned by years of oppression, Mati dreams of freedom and a life beyond the plantation. One night, desperate to flee the violence of her captors, Mati finds refuge in a remote part of the island rumored to be home to a community of runaway slaves. Her escape triggers a ruthless pursuit.
The plantation owner (Benoìt Magimel) hires the merciless slave owner Madame La Victoire (Camille Cottin) and her sons to track her down.
Massamba realizes the brutal consequences awaiting her daughter if she gets captured. He has no choice but to break free from his chains and embark on a perilous journey through the island’s dense jungle to find her. The father and daughter’s journey becomes a desperate fight for survival and a final, irreversible break from the colonial system that has defined their lives.
Directed by
Simon Moutaïrou
Cast
Benoit Magimel, Camille Cottin, Anna Diakhere Thiandoum, Ibrahima Mbaye
CinemaTeaser
by Aurélien Allin Whether it’s the organic cinematography of Antoine Sanier, with its meticulously crafted naturalism, or the extraordinary, almost anachronistic music by Amine Bouhafa, Ni chaînes ni maîtres is first and foremost an audiovisual, sensory, and emotional experience, culminating in its stunning final scene—an overwhelming cinematic moment that visually portrays the unspeakable.
Ouest France
by Anne Augié A first feature with an epic breath.
Franceinfo Culture
by Falila Gbadamassi To a historical reality, Simon Moutaïrou injects an epic and philosophical dimension. This adds substance to a direction that blends action, thriller, and fantasy. The cast transports the audience, just like the breathtaking cinematography.
L’Humanité
by Pablo Patarin By plunging us into the hell of the plantations, Simon Moutaïrou delivers a particularly timely memorial film, where the protagonists struggle to reclaim their dignity in the face of the established order.
La Croix
by Corinne Renou-Nativel An ambitious and powerful debut film.
La Septième Obsession
by Xavier Leherpeur The debuting director imposes a staccato and exponential rhythm on his direction, which he masters to the end. The darkness and nihilism that run through his script, as well as his anxiety-inducing work on the frame, reach their apex in an operatic, tragic ending that, nevertheless, is not devoid of an unexpected form of hope.
Le Parisien
by Catherine Balle The work is carried by two remarkable actors (Ibrahima Mbaye Tchie and Anna Thiandoum), with Camille Cottin delivering an astonishing performance as a ruthless slave hunter.
Les Fiches du Cinéma
by Florent Boutet For his first film, Simon Moutaïrou delivers a poignant testimony on the scourge of slavery.
Voici
by Daniel Bois Just, powerful, and relevant.
Festivals and Awards
Deauville Festival Of American Cinema 2024
FESPACO. Burkina Faso, 2025. Section Diversités.
Festival de films francophones CINEMANIA. Canada, 2024. Les Premières.
Festa do Cinema Francês. Portugal, 2024. Antestreias.
Festival du film français d’Helvétie (FFFH) Suisse, 2024. Les grandes premières.
