Le Cri des gardes is the new drama directed by Claire Denis, due in French cinemas on February 18, 2026. Co-written with Suzanne Lindon, the film has been selected for the New York Film Festival 2025, confirming its status as a landmark work even before its release. Starring Isaach de Bankolé, Matt Dillon, Mia McKenna-Bruce and Tom Blyth, the film promises to be an intense reflection on memory, justice and power relationships.
Le Cri des gardes will be released in French cinemas on February 18, 2026.
Synopsis: On a construction site in West Africa, Horn and his engineer Cal live protected behind fences. The arrival of Leone, Horn's fiancée, coincides with the appearance of Alboury, a man determined to recover the body of his brother who died on the site. His presence upsets the established order and confronts everyone with their choices.
The story takes place on a vast public works site in West Africa. Horn, the site manager, and Cal, a young engineer, live behind the double gates of an expatriate compound. The arrival of Leone, Horn's fiancée, coincides with the intrusion of a mysterious man. This stranger, Alboury, demands that the body of his brother, who died on the construction site, be returned to him. Refusing to leave, he upsets the fragile balance of this protected enclave.
The film brings together Isaach de Bankolé(Coffee and Cigarettes, White Material), Matt Dillon(Drugstore Cowboy, Crash), Mia McKenna-Bruce(Persuasion, How to Have Sex) and Tom Blyth(Hunger Games: The Ballad of the Serpent and the Songbird). Their performances promise to embody the dramatic tension and human dilemmas at the heart of the story.
Le Cri des gardes follows in the footsteps of Claire Denis, who has often focused on Africa and the issues of colonialism, memory and domination. The film should appeal to fans of demanding dramas and politically charged narratives, such as White Material or Beau Travail, which have marked the director's career.
Le Cri des gardes(The Cry ofthe Guards ) is a drama film directed by Claire Denis, co-written with Suzanne Lindon. Starring Isaach de Bankolé, Matt Dillon, Mia McKenna-Bruce and Tom Blyth, it will be released on February 18, 2026. Selected for the New York Film Festival, it promises to be an intense and engaging work on the themes of justice and memory.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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