Borom Sarret (1963)

Borom Sarret
Directed by Ousmane Sembene
Written by Ousmane Sembene
1963/Senegal
First viewing/FilmStruck

 

[box] You can’t hate the roots of a tree and not hate the tree. You can’t hate Africa and not hate yourself. Malcolm X [/box]

The life of a poor cart driver is anything but uplifting but Ousmane Sembene gives us a priceless look at African urban life through his eyes.

This 20-minute film covers a day in the life of a man who ekes out a living driving a wagon in the “African” quarter of Dakar, Senegal.  Most of his customers are even poorer than he.  It will not be a profitable day.

In one way this is a continuation of the “bleak movie” theme running through 1963.  But I found it pretty darned fascinating.

Montage of clips

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