Often called Collywood, or more rarely Camlywood, the very little known Cameroonian film industry sometimes conceals real nuggets, short and feature films of course, series, but also animated films, moreover 4 of them have been purchased by Netflix, including “Therapy”, “Fisherman’s diary“, “Broken” and “A man for the weekend“
Here, you will find a Collywoodian selection, classified by year of release, to watch for free, and above all without any subscription.
Hurry, because some Cameroonian movies will only be available until the middle of the year!
Muna moto
A film by Jean-Pierre Dikongue-Pipa, released in 1975, with David Endene, Arlette Dinbell and Gisele Dikongue-Pipa
Language: French, Duala and Bassa
Duration: 75 mins
Synopsis: Ngando and Ndome love each other. Ngando asks Ndome in marriage, but Ndome’s family reminds him that he must pay the dowry. Orphaned, he appeals to his uncle who, already married to three sterile women, decides to marry the young girl while she is expecting a child from Ngando. Desperate, the young man, on the day of the traditional Ngando festival, kidnaps his own daughter.
Badiaga: Beti beti’s life
A drama inspired by the tragic life of the famous Cameroonian singer Beti Beti (Béatrice Kempeni), who interprets her own role at the end of the latter. A film by Jean-Pierre Dikongue-Dipa, it was released in 1986, with Béatrice Kempeni, Justine Sengue, Alexandre Zanga and François Missé.
Language: French and Pidgin
Duration: 90 mins
Synopsis: Badiaga, a three-year-old girl, is abandoned in a market by her mother. A deaf-mute takes her in and educates her. Growing up, she dreams of becoming a famous singer. She is fascinated by the different stars of Yaoundé cafes. One day, she had the chance to perform a song from her childhood on the radio, which immediately became a national hit. Then the concerts follow one another, the crowd adores him. However, she refuses any sentimental link. A young admirer is not discouraged, curiously he wears the same scarifications on his face as her.
The retired man
A film by Daouda Mouchangou, released in 1990, with Daniel Ndo, Pierre Makon, Sérange Mebina and Joséphine Ndagnou.
Language : French
Duration : 81 mins
Synopsis: A nurse by profession, Ezamot is allowed to assert his rights to retirement, a retirement he has not prepared for. Obliged to withdraw to the village with all his family while waiting for his retirement pension, he is taken in by his younger brother, Ngassa. In the house of the latter, the promiscuity between Magrita, the wife of Ezamot and that of Ngassa, will not take long to create quarrels between them.
The last journey
A short film by Jean-Marie Teno, released in 1990, with Joséphine Ndagnou and Gadima Ndo’o.
Language : French
Duration : 19 mins
Synopsis: Sam, a truck driver, works for a boss who pays him on the trip. He works tirelessly ferrying passengers between Yaoundé and Bamenda and takes a cocktail of drugs to stay awake and maintain his fitness. To stay awake, Sam uses barbiturates that he buys on the side of the road and consumes with kola nuts. But the human body has its limits…
Japhet and Ginette
A film by Gervais Mendo ze, released in 1991, with Charles Nyatte, Josephine Poufong, Henriette Fenda and Ismael Muisse.
Language : French
Duration : 105 mins
Japhet and Ginette is the story of a couple who lived comfortably for a long time, then one day against all odds, Japhet loses his job, a blow for the family. The woman is forced to fend for herself in order to support the family. Her husband feels more and more useless, thereafter the family gradually sinks into incomprehension and endless quarrels. Divorce is on the horizon! Will the couple be able to overcome this ordeal?
Quartier Mozart
A film by Jean-Pierre Bekolo, released in 1992, with Essindi Mindja, Jimmy Biyong and Atebass.
Language : French
Duration : 80 mins
Synopsis: A curious young girl, called Chef de Quartier, wishes to know the life of this district of Yaoundé. A witch woman transforms her into a young man. Integrating into the neighborhood like a man, she discovers its often macho mores.
Aristote’s plot
A film by Jean-Pierre Bekolo, released in 1996, with Albee Lesotho, Ken Gampu and Siputla Sebogodi.
Language : English
Duration : 70 mins
Synopsis: “Aristotle’s plot” is a Pandora’s box at different levels: Four characters share the limelight: “Essomba Tourneur”, an African director, “Cinema”, which somehow symbolizes the personalization of cinema, the cop, which could be assimilated to the spectator who always tries to understand, to grasp the logic and the narrator, who casts an ironic look, half-amused, half-serious, on everything that takes place before his eyes. We do not understand the object of the film if we consider these four elements separately. And we realize, very quickly, that history is perhaps not history…
Confidence
A film by Cyrille Masso, released in 2006, with Thierry Ntamack, Patrice Minko’o, Clémentine Essono, Essomba Eloundou, Massan A. Biroko, Tatiana Matip, Deneuve Djobong, and Daniel Ndo.
Language: French
Duration : 85 mins
Synopsis: After suddenly losing his mentor, a Cameroonian decides to tell his story. At the time, he was a high school student. His family is overwhelmed by money problems. Believing to help them, he embarks on a path that will lead him straight adrift.
Paris by all means
A film by Joséphine Ndagnou, released in 2007, with Serge Uzan, Daniel Nlend, Meiji U Tum’si, Alex Ogou, Martin Poulibé and Joséphine Ndagnou.
Language: French, English and Camfranglais
Duration : 113 mins
Synopsis: Suzy comes from the popular neighborhoods of Yaoundé. Fleeing poverty, she has only one thing in mind: to go to Paris. After having failed in many attempts to cross the border, she finally reaches her destination. The disappointment is total.
Volcanic sprint
A documentary film by Steve Dorst, released in 2007.
Language : English
Duration : 52 mins
Synopsis: A documentary film on the Race of Hope of Mount Cameroon. The toughest race in Africa which is hosted by the city of Buea in the South West Province of Cameroon.
Dare or expose yourself
A short film by Gervais Djimeli Lepka, released in 2008, with Jaques Ekwa, Reine Bovindi and Alfred Biock
Language : French
Duration : 11 mins
Synopsis: How can Lorie’s boyfriend make the mistake of not having a condom at home, just one, the day she finally agrees to deepen their relationship?
Eyenga’s white man
A film by Thierry Ntamack, released in 2012, with Jeanne Thérese Mbenti, Tamar Tientcheu, Thierry Ntamack, Théophile Ngwe II, Brigitte Massan in Biroko and André Sureau.
Language : French
Duration : 80 mins
Synopsis: Eyenga, a young Cameroonian from a poor family in the Mboamanga district of kribi, manages to find “her white” on the Internet. Jean-François Dupont wasted no time in planning his arrival in Cameroon in order to marry her. But it seems that he has no plans to bring her back to France…
A little lie, a little kill
A film by Tebo Njei, released in 2014, starring Ruth Nkweti, Ivan Namme and Ade Kelly.
Duration : 119 mins
Language : English, Cameroonian pidgin and Mboko Tok.
Synopsis: Gerald Ekoko is a roughed up man when he accidentally meets sensational graduate Charlene Epote during his own irritating encounter with a relentless, hot-tempered admirer (Mike) in an incident that steals Gerald’s heart. The only problem is, Helen Ewane; Gerald’s recently engaged fiancée and her pompous loudmouth will do whatever they can to disrupt this blossoming romance that threatens to have her deported and ruin her dwindling opportunities for revered sorority membership.
Hunted
A film by Saïmon William Kum, released in 2016, with Cynthia Elisabeth Ngono, Benjamen Eyebe and Etienne Kamga.
Language : French
Duration : 83 mins
Miranda
A film by Blaise Ntedju, released in 2016, with Edith Djampa, Orgelle Kentsop and Blaise Ntedju.
Language : French
Duration : 72 mins
Bondi
A short film by Sandrine Ngueffo, released in 2017, with Audrey Nguendje, Nicole Bilongo, Ibrahim Nana, Leonce Moundido, Danica Moussongo, Aimée Wafo, Danick Nzoutchoua and Carlos Takam.
Language : French
Duration : 20 mins
Synopsis: Bondi is an 18-year-old young woman, the victim of a stepfather who did not hesitate to rape her and who, since this despicable act, has literally harassed her. An attitude that develops in her a real phobia of telephones.
Minga and the broken spoon
An animated film by Claye Edou inspired by a Béti account, released in 2017, with the voices of Danielle Bonam, Alexis Bell, Anicet Simo, Danice Youngue, Gisèle Noungoure, Eric Ze and Anthericis.
Language : French
Duration : 80 mins
Synopsis: Minga lives with her stepmother, who gives her a hard time. One day, when she has just broken a spoon during the daily dishes, Mami Kaba kicks her out. This is the beginning for the little orphan of a real adventure, punctuated by doubts, melodies and encounters!
A man for the weekend
A film by Syndy Emade, released in 2017, starring Syndy Emade, Alexx Ekubo, and Solange Ojong.
Language : English
Duration : 94 mins
Synopsis: A career woman convinces a co-worker to pose as her boyfriend for a family reunion, but develops unexpected feelings.
Bitterness
A short film by Blaise Ntedju, released in 2018, with Blaise Ntedju, Stephanie Adjonj and Patrick Chendjou.
Language : French
Duration : 23 mins
Synopsis: Mr TETANG is a wealthy businessman who has worked hard all his life to earn a place in the pantheon. Comes the time to think about retirement, and everything spoils.
Love in Malentouen
A film by Stéphane Kamdem released in 2018, with Serge Marcellin Fouamno, Joelle Mefodam and Yannick Kenmoe.
Language : French
Duration : 109 mins
Shenanigans
A film by Salem Kedy, released in 2019, with Muriel Blanche, Mélanie Ngoga, Éric Blandin Ndjeumi, Hervé Nguetchouang, Serge Belang, Claude Thierry Mbouck, Doly Dorcas Tsague, and Noëlle Kenmoe.
Language : French
Duration : 95 mins
Synopsis: Rising star of Cameroonian cinema, Coralie, absolutely wants to play in Stive Yakan’s next film! However, he is not convinced. And the producers only have eyes for the South African Jenifer Manzoula. But Coralie is ready to do anything to achieve her goals…
The silence
A film by Brice Fansi, released in 2019, with Serge Belang, Sandrine Ziba, Jean-Claude Sutchou and Benjamin Eyebe.
Language : French
Duration : 80 mins
Synopsis: Silence is a film about a young couple who, although happy, will undergo an ordeal that will put them in a very big dilemma.
The fisherman’s diary
A film by Enah Johnscott, released in 2020, starring Cosson Chinopoh, Faith Fidel, Kang Quintus and Onyama Laura.
Language : English and pidgin
Duration : 143 mins
Synopsis: Ekah comes from a family of fisherman with deep-rooted principles. His willingness to study, and his intelligence, did not go unnoticed. His determination in the image of his late mother will pay off, but at what cost?
My rough diamond
A film by Aimée Virgile Makougoum, released online in 2020, with Aimée Virgile Makougoum, Ericka Minkoulou and Eric Blandin Djeumi.
Language : French
Duration : 68 mins
Synopsis: Emilie is a former beauty of the night who has rolled her bump. She thought she was the queen of the night until she got sick and lost all her good customers. She finds herself abandoned by everyone, alone with her daughter Josiane, her diamond in the rough, as she calls her.
Back to school
A film by Sikati Dieunedort, released in 2020, with Fabiola Simo, Léonie Gamaleu and Gérard Silatcha.
Language : French
Duration : 78 mins
Synopsis: “Back to school impossible” tells the story of a family whose celebration of passing the end of the year exams turns into a tragedy.
In the name of love
A film by Elvis Bobda, released online in 2020, with Blanche Domi, Désiré Kwakep and Hervé Ngetchouang.
Language : French
Duration : 76 mins
The tchiza’s karma
A film by Blaise Ntedju, released in 2020, with Aimée Makougoum, Justin Feussi and Melissa Kouamen.
Language : French
Duration : 99 mins
Synopsis: A man loses his wife because of her extramarital affair. Unfortunately, it’s not just his couple who find themselves affected.
Broken
A film by Gaston Fru, posted online in 2020, with Edwin Ngewih, Emille Njodzeka and Sylvia Cathyrobins.
Language : English
Duration : 75 mins
Synopsis : An epic film about the traditions of the North West region of Cameroon.
Nativity 2.0
A film by Gervais Ngeuo, released in 2020, with Maryline Kameni, Léopold Ngameni and Kalatty Essame.
Language : French
Duration : 49 mins
Synopsis : What if Jesus was born in Cameroon ?
My dream’s price
A film by Ghislain Towa, posted online in 2021, with Josiane Njinang, Serge Fasseu and David Fonkoua.
Language : French
Duration : 83 mins
What did you think of it? What was your favorite? For me, it’s “Muna moto“, because my mother tongue and my couple are in the spotlight!
Do you know of any other Cameroonian films that fully deserve their place here?
Let us know below in the comments or here.
Good watching session !!
