Two Films by Djibril Diop Mambéty
Sat 26 OctFilm Africa presents the first two instalments of Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambéty’s uncompleted trilogy of short films called Contes des Petites Gens (Tales of the Little People). This programme includes the first of the three films, Le Franc (1994) and La Petite vendeuse de soleil (The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun), which was being edited at the time of the director’s death and premiered posthumously in 1999.
Programme
The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun (La Petite vendeuse de soleil)
SEN | 1998 | dir. Djibril Diop Mambéty,with Tayerou M’baye, Mansour Diouf, Lissa Baléra | in French and Wolof with EN subs | Cert U | 45 mins | 4K Restoration
For a long time, selling newspapers through auctions in the streets of Dakar has been the prerogative of boys. But today Sili, a young girl of around twelve years old who gets around with the help of crutches and who begs to survive and help her blind grandmother, decides to sell newspapers like the boys. But this little world of newspaper sellers is merciless; there she will encounter pain, but also friendship shared between small people. Restored in 2K in 2018. Partners: Waka Films (Silvia Voser), Cinémathèque Afrique
The Franc (Le Franc)
SEN | 1994 | dir. Djibril Diop Mambéty with Demba Bâ, Dieye Ma Dieye and Aminata Fall | in Wolof with EN subs | Cert TBC | 45 mins | 4K Restoration
Marigo, the musician, dreams of his instrument – a Congoma – which his landlady confiscated from him due to chronic non-payment of rent. Appropriating a national lottery ticket, he decides to keep it safe while waiting for the draw: he sticks it on his door and covers it with the poster of a hero from his childhood. On the evening of the drawing, fortune explodes in Marigo’s eyes: the winning number is that of his ticket! Marigo already sees himself as a millionaire, with a thousand congomas, an orchestra, a private plane… But Marigo stuck the ticket on his door. He then tears it from its hinges and takes it to the lottery window… Restored in 2K (Laboratoire Eclair) in 2018. Partners: Waka Films (Silvia Voser), Cinémathèque Afrique.
