Tongo Saa by Nelson Makengo
- HD video, color, 16:9
- 96 min.
- 2024
- DRC/BE/DE/BF/QA
- Lingala spoken (EN, FR, NL st)
- writer-director Nelson Makengo
- assistant director Isaac Sahani Dato
- producers Rosa Spaliviero, Dada Kahindo Siku
- coproducers Florian Schewe, Michel K. Zongo, Marie Logie, Samuel Feller, Isabelle Christiaens
- production managers Rosa Spaliviero, Juliette Hourçourigaray, Isaac Sahani Dato, Hélène Ballis
- image Nelson Makengo
- sound design Franck Moka
- sound recording Moimi Wezam
- sound editing Laszlo Umbreit
- sound mix Rémi Gérard
- editing Inneke Van Waeyenberghe
- colour grading Miléna Trivier
- composers Bao Sissoko, Wouter Vandenabeele
Kinshasa, the capital city of 17 million people, is plunged into darkness and insecurity as its inhabitants struggle to access the light. In a relentless quest, Kudi mobilizes the people of his neighborhood, Kisenso, to buy the stolen cable so that electricity can be restored in time for the festivities. At Christmas, Kudi turns into Santa Claus. Flashes of light and hope illuminate the streets of Kinshasa. On Mount Mangengenge, a sacred site, Pastor Gédéon preaches the light of Christ as the way to faith and light. Meanwhile, young Davido is looking for shelter after his house was flooded by the Congo River. He kills time by working out and waiting for the river to recede from his neighborhood. Between hope and religious faith, Tongo Saa is a subtle, fragmented portrait of a population that, despite the challenges, is reinventing itself in an environment marked by violence, coloured by the uncertainty of tomorrow and immersed in the beauty of Kinshasa's nights.
Kinshasa, capitale de 17 millions d'habitants, est plongée dans l'obscurité et l'insécurité, et ses habitants luttent pour avoir accès à la lumière. Dans une quête incessante, Kudi mobilise les habitants de son quartier, Kisenso, pour acheter le câble volé afin de rétablir l'électricité à temps pour les fêtes de fin d'année. À Noël, Kudi se transforme en Père Noël. Des éclairs de lumière et d'espoir illuminent les rues de Kinshasa. Sur le mont Mangengenge, un site sacré, le pasteur Gédéon prêche la lumière du Christ comme chemin de la foi et de la lumière. Le jeune Davido, quant à lui, cherche un abri car sa maison a été inondée par le fleuve Congo. Il tue le temps en faisant de la musculation et en attendant que le fleuve se retire de son quartier. Entre espoir et foi religieuse, Tongo Saa est un portrait subtil et fragmenté d'une population qui, malgré les défis, se réinvente dans un environnement marqué par la violence, coloré par l'incertitude du lendemain et plongé dans la beauté des nuits de Kinshasa.
Produced by
Twenty Nine Studio & Production
Mutotu Productions
Coproduction : Film Five, Diam Productions, Auguste Orts, Magellan Films, RTBF
Supported by
- SCAM Brouillon d'un rêve et La Culture avec la Copie privée
- The Atlas Workshops, Marrakech International Film Festival
- Fonds Image de la Francophonie
- Fonds Jeune Création Francophone
- IDFA Bertha Fund Europe supported by Creative Europe MEDIA program
- Berlinale World Cinema Fund ACP, the contribution of the European Union and the organization of ACP States
- Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program with support from Open Society Foundations Just Films | Ford Foundation
- Hot lce Docs Fund
- Film and Audiovisual Center of Wallonia Brussels Federation
- Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF)
- The Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government
- Doha Film Institute
Sales agent
Square Eyes Film
Awards and special mentions
- Special Jury Award International Feature Film Competition, Visions du Réel 2024
- Feature Film Grand Prize City of Lisbon and TV Cine Special Award, Indielisboa 2024
- Special Mention Socio-Environmental Cinema Award, Guadalajara International Film Festival 2024
- Best Documentary – New Voice Section, Astra Film Festival 2024
- Silver Tanit for Best Feature Documentary, Carthage Film Festival 2024
- Documentary Silver Stallion of Yennenga, Fespaco 2025
- Special mention First Film, Zinebi 2024
- Special mention Audience, Laceno d’Oro 2024
Nominations
- Nominated for the Berlinale Documentary Award 2024
- Nominated for DFM Award 2024
- Nominated for Best Documentary and for Best Debut Feature Film African Movie Academy Award 2024


