By Beverly AndrewsBelgian rapper Baloji is an artistic polymath. In addition to being an acclaimed musician, he has now made his debut as a film director with the release of his first feature film, Omen. The film offers a fascinating look at how traditional African beliefs shape the life of a Congolese man who makes an unexpected return to his native community.
Accompanied by his pregnant European wife—whom he married against his mother’s wishes—what begins as a casual visit soon transforms into something far more unsettling. Omen gradually evolves into a magical realist portrait of cultural collision, where tradition and modernity uneasily coexist.
The film is an acclaimed international co-production involving Belgium, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and South Africa. It was selected as Belgium’s official entry for the 96th Academy Awards and is now set for its UK release this spring.
