The 72nd Cannes Film Festival is almost here and our own filmmaker, Francesca Tilley-Gyado’s short film “The Years The Locust Ate” has been picked for the Short Film competition at the festival.
The selection is very important as it puts Nigeria on the forefront and signifies a win for other local filmmakers.
Tilley-Gyado grew up in Lagos and relocated to England at the age of 7. She has lived in 5 other countries across 4 continents; Europe, Africa, North and South America included.
“The Years The Locust Ate” follows the story of a family living in exile from the Dirty War. ‘The Dirty War,’ also called ‘The Process of National Reorganization,’ was an infamous campaign waged from 1976 to 1983 by Argentina’s military dictatorship against suspected left-wing political opponents, dissidents and leftist guerillas.
The short film is about former revolutionary, Nikhil Alvarez and his daughter, Salome who come together in their adopted home on his birthday for quiet celebration only to unlock painful memories.
Long exiled from their homeland, Argentina and the forced cessation of dreams that has caused lost years, regret and a broken family. On this day- the two find themselves facing the stark reality of their lives. Brought together by the forces for reconciliation, the film is an exploration into separation and forgiveness of relationships with others, with ourselves and with time.
