Touki-Bouki (1973)

Journey of the Hyena
Feature Film | Drama | Senegal | Wolof & French | 1h25m
Dir: Djibril Diop Mambéty | Scr: Djibril Diop Mambéty | Ph: Georges Bracher | Prod: Djibril Diop Mambéty | Mus: Josephine Baker, Mado Robin, & Aminata Fall | Ed: Siro Asteni & Emma Mennenti | AD: Aziz Diop Mambéty | Cast: Magaye Niang, Mareme Niang, Aminata Fall, Ousseynou Diop, Christophe N'doulabia, Mustafa Ture

A luckless cowherd, whose girlfriend is desperate to escape to Paris, dreams up and enacts various illegal get-rich-quick schemes, but continually fails. However, the two finally strike it rich when they rob a predatory homosexual gangster of a great wad of cash, not to mention his entire wardrobe, bringing their illusory dream to within grasping distance. Employing both Tatiesque comedy and bloody horror to mould a formally adventurous mix of stinging satire and symbolically rich allegory, Diop Mambéty’s remarkable film both entertains and challenges throughout.