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Xala

  • 19751975
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Xala (1975)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
A corrupt politician is cursed with impotence on the night of his third wedding after embezzling 100 tons of rice.A corrupt politician is cursed with impotence on the night of his third wedding after embezzling 100 tons of rice.A corrupt politician is cursed with impotence on the night of his third wedding after embezzling 100 tons of rice.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ousmane Sembene
  • Writer
    • Ousmane Sembene(novel)
  • Stars
    • Thierno Leye
    • Myriam Niang
    • Seune Samb
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ousmane Sembene
  • Writer
    • Ousmane Sembene(novel)
  • Stars
    • Thierno Leye
    • Myriam Niang
    • Seune Samb
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Photos

    Xala (1975)
    Xala (1975)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Thierno Leye
    • El Hadji Aboucader Beyeas El Hadji Aboucader Beye
    Myriam Niang
    • Rama, El Hadji's daughteras Rama, El Hadji's daughter
    Seune Samb
    • Adja Assatu, El Hadji's first wifeas Adja Assatu, El Hadji's first wife
    Fatim Diagne
    • El Hadji's secretaryas El Hadji's secretary
    Younouss Seye
    • Oumi, El Hadji's second Wifeas Oumi, El Hadji's second Wife
    Mustapha Ture
    • The Clientas The Client
    • (as Moustapha Touré)
    Iliamane Sagna
    • Modu, El Hadji's chauffeuras Modu, El Hadji's chauffeur
    Dieynaba Niang
    • La Badieneas La Badiene
    Langouste Drobe
    Farba Sarr
    • Businessmanas Businessman
    Abdoulaye Boye
    Papa Diop
    Martin Sow
    Mamadou Sarr
    • Businessmanas Businessman
    Makhouredia Gueye
    • Minister Kebeas Minister Kebe
    Abdoulaye Seck
    • Businessmanas Businessman
    Douta Seck
    • Gorguias Gorgui
    Marcel Baziau
    • Director
      • Ousmane Sembene
    • Writer
      • Ousmane Sembene(novel) (screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    It is the dawn of Senegal's independence from France, but as the citizens celebrate in the streets we soon become aware that only the faces have changed. White money still controls the government. One official, Aboucader Beye, known by the title "El Hadji," takes advantage of some of that money to marry his third wife, to the sorrow and chagrin of his first two wives and the resentment of his nationalist daughter. But he discovers on his wedding night that he has been struck with a "xala," a curse of impotence. El Hadji goes to comic lengths to find the cause and remove the xala, resulting in a scathing satirical ending. —Anonymous
    • sex comedy
    • third wife
    • wedding
    • senegal
    • impotence
    • 23 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Xala translates as "The Curse".
    • Quotes

      Minister Kebe: The potion must have been excellent! You haven't changed cloths yet.

      Hadji Aboucader Beye: I couldn't get it up... nothing happened!

      Minister Kebe: What?

      Hadji Aboucader Beye: I couldn't get an erection. My mother-in-law says I have the Xala.

    • Connections
      Featured in Twenty Years of African Cinema (1983)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Fascinating AND poor at the same time.
    I love international films and have already seen many African films, so my not being in love with "Xala" has nothing to do with its roots. The bottom line is that while the story is very interesting, the story is so incredibly slow and poorly constructed that it loses much of its punch. It's really a shame, as basic story idea is great.

    The film begins with a cute scene where the white colonial powers are replaced by black ones--and you see that there really is no change. Instead of a white kleptocracy*, there is now a black one--either way, the people of a fledgling African republic are screwed. The main character in the rest of the film is Mr. Hadji. Hadji is a minister in the new government and is going to celebrate his new wealth by marrying for the 3rd time--even though, as it turns out, he is over-stretching his finances. Sure, he IS rich by African standards but the money soon disappears--leaving him not only metaphorically impotent but literally so! This is a great metaphor for hypocrisy and greed in post-colonial Africa.

    So why wasn't I bowled over by the film? Well, the biggest problem was the pacing. While the film runs over two hours, it could easily have been done in 75 minutes and the leaden pace is a serious problem. Additionally, the film, as it's captioned now, is a seriously flawed picture as the captions are, at times, almost impossible to read. White captions don't work well here and too many times I struggled to read them. Overall, an interesting curio from a historical sense, but a film that would be very difficult viewing for the average person.

    *A kleptocracy is a government typified by rampant corruption and stealing and the good of the people is irrelevant.
    helpful•6
    6
    • planktonrules
    • Nov 7, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 29, 1977 (Hungary)
    • Country of origin
      • Senegal
    • Languages
      • French
      • Wolof
    • Also known as
      • Ксала (Бессилие)
    • Production companies
      • Filmi Domirev
      • Société nationale de cinématographie
      • Filmi Domirev
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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