A new production from ON EST ENSEMBLE PRODUCTIONS, OR BLANC is an eight-part thriller series, each episode lasting 52 minutes, in which mysterious murders and shady dealings plunge the city of Man in Ivory Coast into fear. What is this curse that has struck Man? Who could be behind such crimes? The investigation, entrusted to a police officer (Guy Kalou) and a medium (Takou Assié) who are complete opposites, promises to be thrilling… OR BLANC will be available to watch from August 28 on CANAL+ PREMIERE.
OR BLANC is the first fiction written and directed by a Franco-Ivorian duo, Johanna and Clément BOYER-DILOLO, co-founders of the Effet Phi collective. Partners in work and in life, the couple was awarded the Beaumarchais SACD Television grant in 2019 for writing OR BLANC. Three years later, filming of the series began in Man, a city in western Ivory Coast, nicknamed the city of 18 mountains. Known since time immemorial for its fantastical rituals and mystical traditions, Man is a character in its own right in the series and contributes to the dramatic tension of the plot.
OR BLANC brings together a cast of well-known Ivorian actors, including Guy Kalou (LE MEC IDEAL, MA FAMILLE, LES COUPS DE LA VIE), who plays Commissioner Landry, one of the series' main characters. Alongside him are Frank Vlehi, producer of the series LES COUPS DE LA VIE on A+, Edwige Kouamé (LES COUPS DE LA VIE and the film LES FRERES KADOGO), and Bassandé Ynoussa Olaoyé, who has appeared in more than thirty films and series (MA FAMILLE, LE FUTUR EST A NOUS, PERFIDIE, etc.).
OR BLANC also features new talents playing their first roles in a series, notably Takou Assié, Guy Kalou's partner playing the character of Rita, and Fatou Zongo, in the powerful role of Djoliba, an albino prostitute. Through this key character, the series tackles a major social issue: the stigmatization of albinos.
Nathalie Folloroux, Director of CANAL+ CHANNELS, said: "We are delighted to have once again worked with Samantha Biffot and Pierre Ceccaldi from ON EST ENSEMBLE PRODUCTIONS on such an ambitious project. We are also very proud of the writing and directing work of Johanna and Clément Boyer-Dilolo, a duo who deserve all the applause for such a first series. Their talent has enabled them to guide the actors and actresses, whether they are well-known or performing for the first time, to give their best and has created a disturbing atmosphere throughout the eight episodes that will not leave viewers indifferent!"
Samantha Biffot and Pierre Ceccaldi from ON EST ENSEMBLE PRODUCTIONS conclude: "The OR BLANC adventure began when we met the two writers and directors, Johanna and Clément Boyer-Dilolo. The innovative aspect of the series and its setting, the city of Man, convinced us of the potential of this wonderful project. We are also very proud to present the first CANAL+ORIGINAL series with the talented Guy Kalou! OR BLANC was a challenge that the entire team rose to brilliantly, and we can't wait to share this series with the general public!"
TECHNICAL AND ARTISTIC SPECIFICATIONS
GENRE: THRILLER / CRIME / FANTASY
RUNNING TIME: 8X52 MINUTES
COUNTRY: IVORY COAST
PRODUCTION: ON EST ENSEMBLE PRODUCTIONS
PIERRE CECCALDI – SAMANTHA BIFFOT – ADRIEN PLANES – SEBASTIEN BORIVENT CO-PRODUCTION: CANAL+ INTERNATIONAL
FABRICE FAUX – NATHALIE FOLLOROUX – CECILE GERARDIN – ANTHONY KOKA SCREENWRITERS: JOHANNA BOYER-DILOLO, CLEMENT BOYER-DILOLO
SCRIPT DOCTOR: LOUISE RUBI, PAPER TO FILM
DIRECTORS: JOHANNA BOYER-DILOLO, CLEMENT BOYER-DILOLO DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: TALAL KHOURY AND SAMUEL OUEDRAOGO
CAST: GUY KALOU, TAKOU ASSIE, FATOU ZONGO, EDWIGE KOUAME, BACOME NIAMBA, STEPHANE SEBIME LORGN, FORTUNE AKAKPO, CHRISTELLE TIEMOKO, BASSANDE YNOUSSA OLAOYE, GILLES LAGO, FRANCK VLEHI, FULBERT BAYILI, AIME CHRISTIAN EBOUA… BROADCAST INFORMATION: STARTING AUGUST 28 AT 8:30 P.M. ON CANAL+ PREMIERE, TWO EPISODES PER NIGHT.
Press release