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One of two opening-night films at the sixth Pan African Film Festival (through Feb. 16 at the Magic Johnson Theatres), the 1996 feature "Tableau Ferraille" from Senegal is a choppy but engrossing tale of modern Africa, where the drive toward free-market economies and political reforms could lead to chaos or to the continent's long-delayed goals of self-reliance and social stability.

Writer-director Moussa Sene Absa's smooth and insightful direction helps one through the hurry-up storytelling that makes several abrupt leaps in time and frequently cuts off scenes before they achieve full dramatic impact.

In Wolof and French with English subtitles and set primarily in a seaside village called Tableau Ferraille ("scene of junk"), the film is steeped in Muslim culture, including a kind of Greek chorus wearing blue robes. Known as Bay Falls, the chorus is composed of members of an Islamic sect stressing hard work, mutual support and economic independence.

With evocative visuals, stirring musical accompaniment and a talented cast, "Tableau" is centered on the rise and fall of a modern politico by the name of Daam (Ismael Lo), who is torn between two women and two worlds. Schooled in Europe and taking as his "first wife" village beauty Gagnesiri (Ndeye Fatou Ndaw), Daam is a local hero when he's elected a deputy, but he's publicly embarrassed and disappointed when his wife cannot become pregnant.

While his right-hand man Gora (Amadou Diop) is committed to changing things for the better, he's unable to stop Daam from falling for sophisticated Kine (Ndeye Bineta Diop), who becomes the lead's "second wife" and quickly becomes pregnant. Kine exerts her influence, but she's also unhappy when Daam fails to provide her with more of the luxuries of life.

Throughout, Daam's relationship with the powerful, unscrupulous village businessman President (Thierno Ndiaye) grows more problematic. The latter seeks to benefit from Daam's success in the political arena when a lucrative contract to build a bridge is bid for by several parties. In a fateful decision, Kine provides President with confidential information that allows his company to win the project, leading to damaging accusations that Daam used his influence, although he did no such thing.

Several subplots fill out the story line.

TABLEAU FERRAILLE

ADR Prods.

La Sept Cinema, MSA Prods.,

Canal Horizons, KUS Prods.

Writer-director: Moussa Sene Absa

Cinematographers: Bertand Chatry,

Makhete Diallo, Jean Diouf, Murielle Coulin

Editors: Pascale Chvance,

Caroline Coudine, Virginia Descure

Music: Madu Diabate

Color/stereo

Cast:

Daam: Ismael Lo

Gagnesiri: Ndeye Fatou Ndaw

President: Thierno Ndiaye

Kine: Ndeye Bineta Diop

Gora: Amadou Diop

Ndoumbe: Seynabu Celine Sarr

Running time -- 90 minutes

No MPAA rating...