Hyènes

Hyenes, Mambety's avent-guard, surrealistic film captures the real heart and soul of the human social and economical blood thirst for money, when stopping to think about the different animal symbols in this film like the hyena, vulture, and yes even the monkey; you can't help feeling ashamed to be part of the big machine, we call progress. than again is that not what human nature, or the nature of animals is all about? Survival of the fittest. Mambety not only nails the human viciousness and easily influenced character on the head, but he slaps you in the face with our greed. A real plus to this movie is the musical language of Wolof. a must see movie and language, which cannot be matched.

Dürrenmatt's play The Visit is one of the best stories ever told about guilt and honesty. Would it be ruined by being transferred to a village in Africa by a visionary director whose main quality is to create images? That's what I asked myself before watching Hyenas.

And I was surprised in the most positive way. Diop Mambéty hardly changed the plot but supplied it with wonderful images which can only be found in Africa. So why didn't he change the story? Because he didn't have to. The story of the old lady taking revenge on her home village in the most cruel way fits perfectly into the context Mambéty placed it. It seems as though the story had never been imagined to take place in Switzerland; Senegal absorbs it completely.

The choice of Ami Diakhate is maybe the most perfect ever made by any film or stage director, as regards the role of Dürrenmatt's old lady. She has the mark of death and bitterness on her, the condescension of the rich and the hatred of those who have been humiliated. The other actors are charming, also well-cast, though sometimes I felt they would have needed a little more directoral guidance. However, my untrained European eye was not expected too much of: in some Asian, Afroamerican or African movies (shame on me) it is very hard for me to tell the various characters apart, which was not the case in Hyenas.

A wonderful story, a wonderful film. A pity that I will probably never see it again.

This is a sweet little revenge story set in a remote village in Senegal, directed by renowned film maker Djibril Diop Mambety. He is a director of unique style and vision. Watchable if you want to experiment and experience with the different kinds of worlds cinema.

Watched this 30 years after its creation and am very glad I did.

A short review : the way it seems I am should feel about Fellini, I feel about this film. I enjoy some Fellini films, but for whatever reason I felt more connected to this tale.

This film has plenty of spectacle. I mention fireworks, but a carnival in fact sprouts forth from the land (and the pursue of the dishonored woman returning to her home town).

There are both metaphoric and literal hyenas circling the town. The casting of Ami Diakhate was great and this the only film she ever made as far as I can tell. Feels like that might be a story in itself.

Just read an interview with the director (who died 7 years after this film from lung cancer, perhaps a colonial-induced cancer?) Anyways I think he was just a vibrant artist and able to guide dreams both as the director of the film and as a character within it. A master puppeteer never lets you see the strings.

That scene towards the end where Diakhate's character meets with her former lover/enemy/despoiler/mayor/public enemy is rather remarkable. From gazing out at the ocean together sharing an intimate smoke, to Diakhate descending into what looks like a tomb watching from afar as the mayor meets symbolic hyenas on the outskirts of town.

Such a smooth dream-like portrayal of a jarring event.

Next up for me "Touki Bouki"

I've seen Kings Lord over before but it's Linguère turn. This Queen of Colobane has just about everyone abandoning their morals.