Twist

Luke Frederick                 

May 16, 2011     

Benander

Movie review

The Twist

Ca Twiste En Popenguine was a huge relief.  After reading and watching different colonial and post colonial African art it can become draining.  This film gives us a different view of colonialism in Africa, more specifically Senegal.  Set in the 1960’s, this film follows two different groups of teen in town, The Ins and The Kings.  Both groups love rock and roll and obviously, girls.  The problem is that the Ins have the girls and the Kings have the only record player in town.  This obviously is going to cause some friction.   In the middle of all of this is Bacc, who plays both sides of the fence between the groups and causes a lot of the trouble between them.  Although this is a lighthearted movie for the most part, it still deals with some deep issues.  It shows the colonial education system, with a white French teacher who only teaches about France to these African children.  The movie shows that how when they get the education they often go to Paris to rarely be seen again, if ever.  Interestingly enough, this is pretty much what happens to the French teacher who is arguably the most miserable character in the movie.  He comes to Popenguine to never see France again.  There is a poignant scene in the movie where the he tries to correct the Senegalese people about how to discipline children, and he is met head on by a senior member of the community and realizes this is a give and take relationship.  This is also shown in the scene with the TV and call to prayer.  Africans really had an identity crisis and this is film this is touching on.  In the party scene they have a Frenchman signing American rock n roll made by an African American; He’s singing this in Popenguine to teenagers wearing bell bottoms and polyester shirts.  There was such a mix of everything that these teens created a new African identity for their generation which greatly differed from the generation before them, for these teens western equaled cool and new and they embraced the music, clothing, and art of the 1960’s.  The Kings being the U.S. version and the Ins being the French version.

Overall this was really a film to entertain more than so to educate about colonialism.  Obviously they touch on some issues but it’s nearly impossible not to when talking about Africa.  When I was watching it I almost saw it as Grease but in Senegal in the 60s.  The movie was all about music and trying to get girls, and 2 rival gangs battling for their affection.  I thought the movie was good and would recommend it to someone trying to see some more lighthearted African Art.