[1] A coproduction of companies from Senegal, France and Canada, the film is an adaptation of Georges Bizet's opera Carmen in a Senegalese setting, with Karmen portrayed as a seductive bisexual criminal who escapes prison to revive her smuggling ring.
[2] The film stars Djeïnaba Diop Gaï as Karmen Geï, with a supporting cast including Magaye Niang, Stephanie Biddle, Thierno Ndiaye Doss, Dieynaba Niang, El Hadj Ndiaye, Aïssatou Diop, Widemir Normil, Yandé Codou Sène, Massamba Madieye, Ibrahima M'Baye, Coly Mbaye, Abasse Wade, Ibrahima Khalil Paye, Patricia Gomis, Fatou Sow, Awa Sène Sarr, Mayanne Mboup, Oumi Samb, Doudou N'Diaye Rose, Ndèye Thiaba Diop, Samba Cisse, Jo Couly Bouschanzi, Elian Wilfrid Mayila, Abdoulaye Gnagna N'Diaye, Mor Ba, Ndèye Maguette Niang, Malik Niasse and Mouhamadou Gueye.
[3] It screened in Dakar on July 22, 2001,[4] but was subsequently banned for distribution in the country after the Muslim Brotherhood protested the use of Mouride chants in a key scene as "blasphemous".
[6] Dennis Harvey of Variety wrote that "in general, Karmen works better on the level of atmosphere and buoyant, party-hearty set pieces than it does as a cogent action melodrama.
Neither p’opera nor conventional tuner, package finds many ways to integrate music that ranges from dynamic percussion busking to hymnals, proto-rap 'toastings,' piano balladry, soundtracked Afropop and jazz.