Evoking the Greek tragedy Medea, Diop’s inspiration for SAINT OMER was the 2013 news story of a 15 month old girl found drowned on a beach and the French mother of Senegalese origin accused in her death.
With the story covered in almost all news outlets, Diop was drawn to it and the idea for a film was planted. After seeing a photo of the accused mother taken by surveillance camera, Diop decided she would attend the trial in 2016 as an observer and for research to write the film’s script. The trial was a very impactful emotional experience.
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