Dahomey: Mati Diop’s documentary looks into the return of 26 artifacts from France to Benin, all national treasures stolen during colonial times. Even though the film looks (briefly) into the how, why, and what the artifacts are, it is more interested in the cultural impact and what the restitution means. At the film’s core is a spirited debate between the country’s youth, which is deep, detailed, and erudite. Cinematographer Joséphine Drouin-Viallard captures it all with a poetic camera, in particular, the artifacts themselves; editor Gabriel Gonzalez likewise introduces some poetry in the way the film is cut, even if it can drag at times. The most memorable (and poetic) touch, however, is the idea to give voice to the treasures themselves, with a very well-written and well-read text.