In 1759, the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean is under French colonial rule. The enslaved population working in the sugar cane plantations live in constant fear. Among them, 16-year-old Mati (Anna Diakhere Thiandoum) refuses to accept her fate. Unlike her father Massamba (Ibrahima Mbaye), who has grown disillusioned by years of oppression, Mati dreams of freedom and a life beyond the plantation. One night, desperate to flee the violence of her captors, Mati finds refuge in a remote part of the island rumored to be home to a community of runaway slaves. Her escape triggers a ruthless pursuit.
The plantation owner (Benoìt Magimel) hires the merciless slave owner Madame La Victoire (Camille Cottin) and her sons to track her down. Massamba realizes the brutal consequences awaiting his daughter if she gets captured. He has no choice but to break free from his chains and embark on a perilous journey through the island’s dense jungle to find her. The father and daughter’s journey becomes a desperate fight for survival and a final, irreversible break from the colonial system that has defined their lives.
“An exhilarating, gripping and genuinely heartfelt thriller.” —NYC Movie Guru
“Whether it’s the organic cinematography of Antoine Sanier, with its meticulously crafted naturalism, or the extraordinary, almost anachronistic music by Amine Bouhafa, Ni chaînes ni maîtres is first and foremost an audiovisual, sensory, and emotional experience, culminating in its stunning final scene—an overwhelming cinematic moment that visually portrays the unspeakable.” —CinemaTeaser
“A first feature with an epic breath.” —Ouest France
“To a historical reality, Simon Moutaïrou injects an epic and philosophical dimension. This adds substance to a direction that blends action, thriller, and fantasy. The cast transports the audience, just like the breathtaking cinematography.” —Franceinfo Culture
“By plunging us into the hell of the plantations, Simon Moutaïrou delivers a particularly timely memorial film, where the protagonists struggle to reclaim their dignity in the face of the established order.” —L’Humanité
“The debuting director imposes a staccato and exponential rhythm on his direction, which he masters to the end. The darkness and nihilism that run through his script, as well as his anxiety-inducing work on the frame, reach their apex in an operatic, tragic ending that, nevertheless, is not devoid of an unexpected form of hope.” —La Septième Obsession
“For his first film, Simon Moutaïrou delivers a poignant testimony on the scourge of slavery.” —Les Fiches du Cinéma