Dreams of Dakar – Two Classics from Senegal
La Petite vendeuse de soleil , Le Franc
Run time: 88 min
Special Screenings
Not for persons under 7
Drama | Comedy
Free Admission Afro-European Shorts At Work Feelgood Society Classic
Special Screenings
Screenings:
Djibril Diop Mambéty is one of the most famous Senegalese directors, and in the West, arguably the best-known director from the African continent. Born in Colobane in 1945, Mambéty began his career as an actor at the Theater Sorano in Dakar. He soon got interested in cinema, and made his debut work, Badou Boy, in 1965.
Mambéty’s best known work Touki Bouki, was released in 1973 and brought him international acclaim. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. He spent the latter part of his life between Dakar and Europe before passing away in 1998.
Espoo Ciné presents Mambéty’s final two films, which showcase the director’s humanism at its finest. Together, these two films reveal the universality of certain aspects of humanity while never forgetting the distinct local perspective of his work.
Films screened:
Le Franc (1994, Senegal, 45 min, Wolof, subtitles in English)
A comedy about a man who wins the lottery, only to discover that he has unfortunately glued his winning ticket to his door. The film is set against the backdrop of the real-life devaluation of the West African CFA franc, which inspired Mambéty to create a humorous and successful work.
The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun (1999, Senegal, 43 min, Wolof, subtitles in English)
Everyday life and disability are portrayed with warmth and compassion as a young girl working as a newspaper vendor encounters the city’s diverse inhabitants. Real political events are also present in the film, but remain far removed from the everyday life of the protagonist.
Juho Lipponen
Free entrance. In collaboration with the City of Espoo and Institut Français.
Mambéty’s best known work Touki Bouki, was released in 1973 and brought him international acclaim. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. He spent the latter part of his life between Dakar and Europe before passing away in 1998.
Espoo Ciné presents Mambéty’s final two films, which showcase the director’s humanism at its finest. Together, these two films reveal the universality of certain aspects of humanity while never forgetting the distinct local perspective of his work.
Films screened:
Le Franc (1994, Senegal, 45 min, Wolof, subtitles in English)
A comedy about a man who wins the lottery, only to discover that he has unfortunately glued his winning ticket to his door. The film is set against the backdrop of the real-life devaluation of the West African CFA franc, which inspired Mambéty to create a humorous and successful work.
The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun (1999, Senegal, 43 min, Wolof, subtitles in English)
Everyday life and disability are portrayed with warmth and compassion as a young girl working as a newspaper vendor encounters the city’s diverse inhabitants. Real political events are also present in the film, but remain far removed from the everyday life of the protagonist.
Juho Lipponen
Free entrance. In collaboration with the City of Espoo and Institut Français.