The return of 26 artifacts to Dahomey—now Benin—after they were taken by French colonizers is being met with considerable joy. The collection includes statues depicting Kings Ghezo and Béhanzin, along with items holding religious importance and objects so delicately made that they will need constant specialized care in a new facility constructed close to the Presidential Palace. However, I felt like the film didn’t give enough attention to these remarkable sculptures, nor did it delve deeply into their history, where they came from, or the details of the colonial agreements that allowed them to be removed initially. A narrator would have been helpful; usually, I don't mind the absence of one, but at times the presentation felt like a short clip you’d watch while visiting a museum before moving on to something else. It seemed structured as if it were the first installment of a larger documentary series that intended to explore more and address many of the unanswered questions in this hour-long introduction. A significant portion of the film follows a group of young people engaged in discussions about whether France’s return of these items is positive or negative, and while those conversations occasionally offer interesting perspectives on what feels like a debate about history's impact, it wasn't really what I was hoping to see. I would have preferred more information regarding the mythology behind the depictions of humans with animal characteristics—a practice reminiscent of ancient Egyptian beliefs. It’s unclear why these features were used, how they should be protected and displayed, and for whose benefit. The lack of this detail left me feeling let down. While it might encourage viewers to seek out additional resources on their own, as it is now, the film isn't particularly compelling.

Source on TMDB