Touki Bouki (1973)

Mory, a cowherd who rides a motorcycle mounted with a cow's skull, and Anta, a university student, have met in Dakar, Senegal's capital. Alienated and disaffected with Senegal and Africa, ... See full summary »

Director:

Djibril Diop Mambéty

Writer:

Djibril Diop Mambéty

Stars:

Magaye Niang, Mareme Niang, Aminata Fall

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Magaye Niang	...	Mory
Mareme Niang	...	Anta
Aminata Fall	...	Aunt Oumy
Ousseynou Diop	...	Charlie
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Josephine Baker	...	Herself (voice)
Christoph Colomb
Ndou Labia
Mustapha Ture

Storyline

Mory, a cowherd who rides a motorcycle mounted with a cow's skull, and Anta, a university student, have met in Dakar, Senegal's capital. Alienated and disaffected with Senegal and Africa, they long to go to Paris and work up different con schemes to raise the money. Mory steals clothing and money from a wealthy gay man who had brought him home, and he and Anta book passage on a ship to France.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Senegal

Language:

Wolof Arabic French

Release Date:

21 October 1976 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

Journey of the Hyena

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinegrit, Studio Kankourama

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is believed to be Africa's first avant-garde film, although Oh, Sun could also make this claim.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Episode #1.13 (2011)

User Reviews

Confusing

I wanted to see this movie because I read about it on a list of political films that were praised in a local free newspaper (The Washington Free Press).

The movie, filmed in the west African country of Senegal, does contrast the great divide between the haves and the have-nots; graphically so.

However, the film style seems to be along the lines of the French new wave artist Jean-Luc Godard. I've read Godard is a "genius" when it comes to film -- but I think it depends on your perspective. I've enjoyed his films "Week End" and "Masculine-Feminine" but when it came to "Pierrot le fou," I just had to shrug. That's kind of how I felt about "Touki Bouki."

If you are interested in seeing a very in-your-face story about two young lovers trying to find the money to leave Senegal for France, this is the film. Though be forewarned, it doesn't always make much sense!

My rating: 5