Soleil Ô (Oh, Sun!). 1970. Written and directed by Med Hondo

Soleil Ô (Oh, Sun!). 1970. Mauritania/France. Written and directed by Med Hondo. With Robert Liensol, Théo Légitimus, Gabriel Glissand. DCP. In French, Arabic; English subtitles. 102 min. The conflicting experiences of an African expatriate looking for work in 1960s France are rendered through a series of stylized set pieces that audaciously combine documentary, satire, and folklore. Soleil Ô is an essential work in Med Hondo’s rich, experimental career, one that exposes the postcolonial mindset and condescension of the Western gaze that both exoticizes and mocks African migrants and bodies.