Borom Sarret
Encyclopedia
Borom Sarret is the first film by Senegal
ese director Ousmane Sembène
over which he had full control. It is often considered the first film ever made in Africa by a black African. It is twenty minutes long and tells a story about a cart driver in Dakar
. The film illustrates the poverty in Africa
, showing that independence has not solved the problems of its people.
While he expects to be paid for his services, he never makes it clear, so when he does not receive payment he is often left feeling disappointed and taken advantaged of.
Among the people he meets is a man delivering his dead child to the cemetery. When the man is not allowed in because he does not have the correct papers, the cart driver abandons the body in the ground and leaves the man lamenting over his loss. In another sequence, a well dressed man asks to be taken to the wealthier French quarter of the city. They argue, but the cart master takes him anyway. The city prohibits horse-drawn carts and a policeman fines Sarret, taking his cart payment. The well-dressed man has left his driver and Sarret is now left without a means to earn a living. (http://www.africanfilmlibrary.com/play.aspx?VideoId=1755)
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese director Ousmane Sembène
Ousmane Sembène
Ousmane Sembène , often credited in the French style as Sembène Ousmane in articles and reference works, was a Senegalese film director, producer and writer...
over which he had full control. It is often considered the first film ever made in Africa by a black African. It is twenty minutes long and tells a story about a cart driver in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
. The film illustrates the poverty in Africa
Poverty in Africa
Poverty in Africa refers to the lack of basic human needs faced by certain segments of African society. African nations typically fall toward the bottom of any list measuring small size economic activity, such as income per capita or GDP per capita, despite a wealth of natural resources...
, showing that independence has not solved the problems of its people.
Plot
Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène's Borom Saret tells the story of a poor man trying to make a living as a cart driver in Dakar.While he expects to be paid for his services, he never makes it clear, so when he does not receive payment he is often left feeling disappointed and taken advantaged of.
Among the people he meets is a man delivering his dead child to the cemetery. When the man is not allowed in because he does not have the correct papers, the cart driver abandons the body in the ground and leaves the man lamenting over his loss. In another sequence, a well dressed man asks to be taken to the wealthier French quarter of the city. They argue, but the cart master takes him anyway. The city prohibits horse-drawn carts and a policeman fines Sarret, taking his cart payment. The well-dressed man has left his driver and Sarret is now left without a means to earn a living. (http://www.africanfilmlibrary.com/play.aspx?VideoId=1755)