Mangabangabaka
Synopsis
Sonia worked as a sex worker for nearly 30 years on the streets of Toamasina, on the east coast of Madagascar. Born into a poor family, she was introduced to the nightlife at a very young age and made a life for herself there, under the leering gaze of men and their control over her body. Now aged 47, she is exhausted, worried about her health and anxious about the future of her two grown-up children. Despite the economic and social conditions in Toamasina, she decides to leave prostitution and buy a sewing machine to become a seamstress. But the need for money remains acute, whether to meet day-to-day necessities or to provide for the growing needs of her daughter, Piso. The teenager, like her friends, would like to lead a normal life, to be able to buy herself new trainers or the latest trendy smartphone. For Sonia, a struggle begins between her desire to change her life and her determination to raise her children with dignity. After thirty years on the streets, she must let go of an identity that had become her own and manage to earn a sufficient income. The transition looks set to be a difficult one for Sonia, as she will have to resist the nightlife that relentlessly draws her back in.
Credits
Director (1)
Production and distribution (2)
- Co-productions : Les Films de la Pluie, Ana Films
- Foreign production companies : Imasoa Film, Pilumpiku Production
Full credits (9)
- Art advisor : Céline Dréan
- Creator : Michaël Andrianaly
- Screenwriter : Michaël Andrianaly
- Director of Photography : Michaël Andrianaly
- Sound Recordist : Wilfried Andrianjara
- Editor : Denis Le Paven
- Sound Editor : Pablo Salaün
- Grader : Denis Le Paven
- Sound Mixer : Pablo Salaün
Media Gallery
Technical details
- Programme format : One-off
- Type : TV programme
- Genres : Documentary
- Sub-genre : Documentary
- Themes : Prostitution, Society
- Coproducer countries : France, Madagascar
- Production year : 2026
- Runtime : 1 h 31 min
News & awards
Selections (1)
IDFA - International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
The Netherlands, 2026
Compétition internationale
