Demba is about to retire after 30 years of service at the city hall in his small town in Northern Senegal. That hot summer, as the two-year anniversary of his wife's passing approaches, he realises he just can't "shake it off." As his mental health deteriorates, he discovers a new connection with his once-estranged son. Can Demba recover from his loss without losing himself? In a society where grief is expected to be endured in silence, 'Demba' is a rare and intimate exploration of mourning, masculinity, and mental health. Director Mamadou Dia crafts a deeply personal yet universally resonant story, posing a profound question—how does a culture without a word for "depression" address emotional suffering?
Through Demba's struggle, the film examines generational divides, the weight of unspoken pain, and the quiet strength required to confront loss. Shot in Dia's hometown of Matam, 'Demba' deftly adopts an almost lyrical visual language to convey its protagonist's internal turmoil. Mirrors, shifting colours, and blurred imagery reflect Demba's fractured state of mind, while dreamlike sequences muddy the lines between past and present. At once a meditation on sorrow and a celebration of resilience, 'Demba' is a potent cinematic statement on the unseen battles of grief and the quiet, transformative power of human connection.