The 2026 Cannes Classics will feature a restored version of Tilaï (The Law), a landmark film by Burkinabé filmmaker Idrissa Ouédraogo. This 4K restoration is set to be showcased alongside a selection of 21 feature films, 3 short films, 6 documentaries, and two contemporary works.
Cannes Classics highlights the efforts of production companies, rights holders, film archives, cinémathèques, and national archives worldwide to preserve important cinematic works.
Originally released in 1990, Tilaï is a celebrated drama that Ouédraogo wrote, directed, and produced. It premiered at the 1990 Toronto Festival of Festivals and made its French debut on December 5, 1990. The film is the result of a collaboration involving Burkina Faso, Switzerland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It tells the poignant story of Saga, who returns home after a two-year absence only to discover that his father has married Nogma—Saga’s intended bride. According to village law, this union renders Nogma both Saga’s stepmother and mother, complicating their love story within the lens of local customs. Ouédraogo received the Grand Prix at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival and the prestigious Étalon d’or de Yennenga at FESPACO in 1991 for this work.
The restoration, performed by the Cité de Mémoire laboratory, involved meticulous digital and photochemical processes, supervised by Denis Garcia and Silvia Voser, who was also a co-producer of the original film. This restoration was commissioned by Institut français – Cinémathèque Afrique, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting African film heritage held in both French and African archives. The initiative aims to safeguard significant works of African cinema that are at risk of degradation. It resonates with Cinémathèque Afrique’s commitment to preventing the loss of African cinematic memory through conservation projects carried out with partners such as Cité de Mémoire.
The restored film will be screened in the esteemed presence of Nora Ouedraogo, the daughter of Idrissa Ouédraogo, and producer Silvia Voser.
