Change Your Image
hoffrojm
Reviews
Kirikou et la sorcière (1998)
Kirikou and the Sorceress
Kirokou et la Sorcière was a very good story in many ways. It was a story that showed how size doesn't matter; you can be mighty even if you are small. The movie reminds me of a mixture of many Disney fairy tales that I am familiar with. In this film the colonization of the community was in the sorceress steeling all the men, gold, and children. The idea that someone can have so much power is unbelievable, but in real life there is someone, or more than one, that has similar power.
Kirokou is a very brave young child that was always mature for his age. He always did things that should be done by a man, but he was able to do it. He did not really have strength that most heroes have. He could run fast, cared about his people, and most of all was smart. To become smarter he was very curious and asked many questions that he was determined to find out. Not many good stories have the hero being a smart individual, but strong. Here this characteristic of being wise is looked upon as a wonderful thing.
As the days go on he does more and more to help the people. He saves the children, gets back the water, and the sorceress. He saves the sorceress by pulling the thorn out of her back that has been giving her great pain for years. She is then grateful to Kirokou. When she kisses him he turns into a handsome man to heal her event farther. Having the thorn in her back represented the pain she was put through, rape. When Kirokou show her his love she also falls in love with him.
The excerpts from Sundiata, similar to The Lion King, which was read in class, had a similarity to the film. In the beginning it was a determination effect, as some of Kirokou's, to get up and walk so the people would respect him as their leader. In both of these pieces the mothers play important roles. They are both there for the type of support the child needs. In the film the child need his mother's opinion when he is trying to save his and the sorceress' lives.
Not all heroic stories are like this one, but it has great meaning and teachings behind it. I really enjoyed this film. Those who view this particular film need to be mature individuals. For my one personal preference the women could be wearing tops and it would be then appropriate to show to children. This I think should be done because it would be something great for children to watch. Not just children, but a good quality family film.
Twist à Popenguine (1994)
Colonialism's effect on the Africans
Ca Twiste a Popenguine or Rocking Popenguine is a very interesting story. One of the main characters, Bacc, was a boy being raised by the community because he was an orphan. This shows how the culture pulls together to raise the children for the future. There are many different problems presented in the film. Colonialism was presented as a good and bad thing. The African way of life was being mixed with the American and French traditions and culture. In some areas of Africa this is still happening today. The youth of the community was thought in French and liked to learn about the French ways. The adults especially the elders had a problem with this when the young were learning nothing about African culture and history, but about French writers and there history. Another problem is that the teacher, Mr. Beniot, had a conflict within himself. He felt as if he was an alien to France, his home country, and to Africa. This represents how he battled the idea of where he felt he belonged liking things about both cultures.
Absa answers Fanon's observation "the condition of native is a nervous condition" by these problems mentioned. The homeland culture is being changed to be more like others that are said to be better off. The problem is that some like the change, others don't, and some are stuck in the middle. It is nerve racking I am sure to know that everything your ancestors stood for is lost to another's, a nervous condition.
In comparing to the novel by Dangarembga the acceptance of colonization is slightly different. In the novel there was a mix of those who liked the change. Men, mostly the oldest male, were the ones who got the most out of the new way. Women had problems with the men being in too much control over them for the cultural change. Children were the same as the adults. In the film the children, both boys and girls, the some of the adults did not see the significance in schooling about the French while others, like Mr. Beniot felt that it was necessary because of the way French culture was now entering into the lives of the Africans and the children are the future.
The some of the characters of the film, mainly the children, had two names. They had the name they were born with and the French or American name they had chosen in school. They went by the names they had chosen more than their birth names, only the adults called them by their birth names. The other cultures have influenced the children greatly in their actions, words, and music. In different parts of the film there is significance to the type of music that is played. Some of the music was French pop which the "Ins" are influenced by. The "Kings" are influenced by American pop music. The names they choose went along with the music they liked creating the individuals to act more along the lines of that culture mixed with their own.
Monsieur Beniot's crisis and healing all stemmed from his problem of not knowing where he belonged. He had been so confused that he got himself drunk. He normally drank some about every day, but he was unable to control his actions this particular night. He felt as though it was a good thing that the French was colonizing the African culture and not the other way around, but he seemed to enjoy the African culture when he was sober. This seems to conflict itself; not knowing where he fits in. The way the African people showed their appreciation to him was a good way of healing his hurt. He realized how much the people actually cared for him and wanted him to stay.
At the end there was an irony that the producer presented the idea of the party. The singer was a French man singing an English song in French, performing for those who spoke Wolof. The end also showed more of a mix in culture happening willingly. Mr. Beniot was dancing with an African woman and the other white woman, who he seemed sweet on, Ginette, was dancing with an African as well.
The film had a lot to do with the changing of culture. The Native liked and disliked the change, but were working together to figure what was right for them. The film was entertaining and good for the actors and actresses not being trained. There was a lot of comedy that was placed within the film that seemed to pull the whole film in as normal living for the community. It was a great story and would recommend it to be watched.