Karmen Gei

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

The story of tempestuous Carmen, first told in a short story by Prosper Merimee and made famous in an opera by Georges Bizet, gets a new and striking modern-dress adaptation in this provocative drama with music. Karmen Gei (Jeinaba Diop Gai) is an inmate in a women's prison in Senegal; lusty, impulsive, and looking out for herself at all times, Karmen's uninhibited dancing and sensual demeanor excites the Sapphic passions of Angelique (Stephanie Biddle), the prison's warden, who allows herself to be seduced by the wanton Karmen. Once Angelique falls asleep, Karmen sees the coast is clear and escapes to town, where she is caught by military policeman Col. Lamine Diop (Magaye Adama Niang) after insulting factotums of the nation's military leadership. However, Diop proves no match for Karmen's seductive charms, and after having her way with him, she once again escapes and Diop finds himself behind bars. Karmen arranges for Diop's escape, but it isn't long before he realizes she is using him as a plaything and has little respect for him as a man; however, by this time he's too deeply addicted to Karmen's passions to turn away. While inspired in part by Bizet's opera, Karmen Gai boats an all-new score by David Murray, Julien Jouga, and Doudou Ndiaye Rose that draws on elements of pop, jazz, and Afro-pop for its original themes. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: Eng

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Jeinaba Diop Gai - Karmen Gei
       Magaye Niang - Lamine Diop
       Stephanie Biddle - Prison Gov. Angelique
       Thierno Ndiaye - Old Samba
       El Hadji Ndiaye - Massigui
       Aissatou Diop - Madjiguene
       Widemir Normil - Superintendent

• Director:

  Joseph Gaï Ramaka

• Producer:

  Richard Sadler

• Screenwriter:

  Joseph Gaï Ramaka

• Composer (Music Score):

  David Murray, Julien Jouga, Doudou Ndiaye Rose