Otomo (1999)

Steeped in the raw realities of life, "Otomo" unfurls the poignant tale of an illegal Black African immigrant seeking both work and asylum in the sternly indifferent city of Stuttgart, Germany. The narrative trails his one-day journey, marked by a ceaseless struggle against racism, police trouble, and the haunting specter of his past and uncertain future. Otomo's journey begins with the bitter taste of rejection at a dilapidated temporary employment agency due to his lack of ID and proper shoes. Undeterred, he drifts aimlessly through the city, only to be ensnared in a conflict on a streetcar, where he is wrongfully accused of possessing an invalid ticket by a racially biased trolley conductor. The escalating tension culminates in Otomo head-butting the conductor, plunging him into a dangerous game of hide and seek with the police. Haunted by the relentless pursuit of law enforcement, the desperate Otomo resolves to leave the country. As if guided by the hand of fate, he crosses paths with a trucker willing to smuggle him to the Netherlands for a hefty sum of 400 Deutsche Mark - a fortune beyond his reach. This need for money ushers him into a world of desperate measures, yet amidst the storm, it also blooms into a surprising romance. However, Otomo's journey is far from a fairytale. The film captures his desperate race against time to gather the required sum while eluding the police, leading to a culmination that echoes the tragic end of the real-life Otomo. The film leaves the audience in suspense, questioning the validity of Otomo's ticket and the choices he is forced to make in a world that seems set against him. This gripping narrative serves as a stark reflection on the human condition, the struggles of immigration, and the bitter sting of discrimination.

Otomo is a drama movie featuring Isaach De Bankolé.

Otomo is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and myfilmfriend.

It is also possible to buy Otomo on Amazon Video.