Putting on My Roger Ebert Cap

This weekend, my mom and I watched "Ouaga Saga" at the Movie Museum. The Movie Museum--a place I drove past many times without noticing it--has the largest video cassette collection I've ever seen and 19 lazy boys facing one small screen. Airing this weekend, according to the ad in the newspaper, was a

"funny, modern tale set in the African nation of Burkina Faso [that] focuses on a group of young men who, with a little magic and a lot of luck, become entrepreneurs."

IMDB rated the film 7.1 stars. What I watched was the day-to-day adventures of a group of boys who are all somewhat related and live in the now. They do quick errands for cash to buy meals for the day, hang out, and sing and dance. Pretty typical scenario.

They take advantage of the Rule of Robin Hood by stealing a rich girl's moped and sell it. They divide the money; splurge on a feast, soccer shoes, and a guitar; then decide to pool the money back together to save/hide. WHAT? They know how to save? Must be the mom's influence, who is in a women's cooperative (ahh, PC reminiscing).

The boys play a joke on their prying, busybody neighbor (ahh, PCR #2), who complains to the police that he was viciously attacked and tattletales that the boys have a large sum of money. Before the police come to investigate, one boy notices and runs off with the money tin. Is he well-intentioned or making an easy escape? Wait and see.

While he’s gone, the boys are locked up in prison because of the neighbor’s accusation and the fact* that these young, good-for-nothing black boys are always up to trouble. The moms and sisters parade through town, intimidating the police officers (ahh, PCR #3). One daughter charms the commissariat to release the boys.

Who knew? The boys were actually hard-working entrepreneurs! Jobs are available! The film forgets about the neighbor to focus on them diligently executing their new revenue-generating tasks, while practicing soccer, of course.

Meanwhile, the boy who ran off with the money easily gets swindled by a man who owns a betting/gambling kiosk and his witch-doctor brother. But wait! The boy still has some horse-racing tickets and some smarts. Although the ticket seller tries to pull another fast one on the boy, the boy realizes it and punches the man. Unlike the other boys, this boy doesn’t go to prison; he wins a bazillion gazillion ciffa. Despite his wealth, he still takes a bus back to Ouaga and ends up sitting next to an educated girl. It is possible to have a vagina and college education.

Just as the family and boys are talking about their educational, financial, broken family woes, the gambler boy comes back home with a swagger and checkbook. All is well in the world. Through thick-and-thin, the boys, the mom, and the half-sisters remain united. They achieve their dream of opening a bar. Instead of splurging with the winnings, the mom teaches the boys to work hard. She even sews them soccer uniforms, and cheerleading outfits for the girls. Oh, I forgot to mention, there is an inter-neighborhood soccer championship, and yes, these boys win. The girls distract the referee by looking pretty, and even the opponents’ witch doctor fails to influence the outcome. The trophy is topped off with plastic flowers (ahh, PCR #4).

To me, the light-hearted film seemed like it was made quickly and had the quirky European-influence that my American-self doesn't quite understand and sometimes appreciates (ie, watch the movie Amelie). I also felt like I was watching corny propaganda directed at...not sure. As if Burkinabe youth would watch this? I wonder how many locals and volunteers have seen this movie. As soon as the film was over, my mom asked who the film's intended audience was.

Although the movie dragged at some points, I enjoyed seeing tidbits of West African culture that reminded me of my time in Mauritania and trips to Senegal. The lazy boy was nice: Movie Museum definitely is not Ouaga Cinema.

An African film isn't complete without Pele and John Wayne references....sleeping policemen with BMOC syndrome and looooove paperwork....drinks come in small plastic bags....pretty women and girls have complete control over men....overloaded donkeys (who can talk)....local boys surround fat, white American tourists...news is spread via loudspeaker from a car driving around. I learned new strategies to negotiate lower prices, and it was refreshing to hear African French again.

Au debut, je pense que je n'aurai pas un trop grand probleme avec la langue la-bas, inshallah. What will be new for me with this upcoming assignment will be living in the capital and not surrounded by the influence of Islam. According to the movie, it seems like animalism and beer will be more common. Whoo hoo.

*Sarcasm, duh.