It's quite important to see films from other cultures, in order to better live together, appreciate and respect cultural heritage and differences (instead of the usual western views), so it was interesting to see a movie from French-Nigerian director Mamane. Bi-cultural people often have interesting viewpoints, and this director is no exception. He casts a glance on both France and Nigeria's politicians and people with quite incisive yet good-hearted humor.
As the only white person in a full audience of hundreds, I was uneasy about some jokes about Africa's governments and people, which I was unsure if they were offensive or not, but the rest of the audience laughed quite loudly and often during the whole film, so I hope I deduced rightly that it is not offensive, and that this film won't offend anyone, or I would not recommend it and write this review. I am very sorry if I'm wrong. It would be great to have Nigerian's people opinion about this film.
The film is both idealist and cynical, very philantropic yet completely lucid, realistic yet hopeful. You leave the theater feeling both light-hearted yet very disturbed at the deep corruption that happens in such countries, especially as a Westerner, because there is a past responsability in the current situations there. The film may be very funny, it may not show all the violence African activists I know describe that they meet in such places, but most viewers knows and though the director does not show any racism or hatred towards anyone (black or white), maybe especially because he does not judge or hate, do the viewer feel even worse because of this kindness and guess the distress behind the laughter.
We have a saying over here that say it is better to laugh than to cry about things we can't change, and it is very brave to do so, like the director and the audience did, but you can't help wishing and striving for things to change. That we could make the world a fairer better place for everyone.
