Yao

In Yao, French star Omar Sy gives his finest performance since the hit Intouchables. He plays the actor Seydou Tall, who travels to his parents’ home country Senegal to promote his new book. In the capitol Dakar, Tall meets the thirteen-year-old book lover Yao, who has travelled 387 kilometres from his village to get his book signed. An unconventional and unexpected friendship occurs when the idol is to help the young boy get back home.

Yao is filled with subtle hints to classics within the road movie genre and the soundtrack, inspired by the likes of Mark Knopfler and Ry Cooder, enhances our immersion into the protagonists' journey on dusty African roads. Although Tall is Yao's idol and not vice versa, it seems that the roles are turned when the duo face both small and large challenges in rural Senegal. In other words, it is the experienced and identity-seeking actor who must learn to appreciate the joy of a good book or a tasty meal served in good company.

Phillippe Godeau is a French director and producer. Yao is his third film as director. Previously, he has directed Omar Sy’s co-star from Intouchables, François Cluzet, in the thriller 11.6 and the drama Le Dernier Por La Route. The latter received four César Award nominations. In 2009 he produced the cult movie Mr. Nobody starring Jared Leto.