Ousmane Sembène, Senegal, 1988
SYNOPSIS
Senegal, 1944. As the war comes to an end in Europe, a battalion of tirailleurs sénégalais arrives at the Thiaroye transit camp. As they await their demobilization, they learn that their compensation will be cut in half. A general, attempting to impose his authority, is forcefully restrained. In retaliation, the camp is attacked in the middle of the night, and twenty-five tirailleurs are killed.
BIOFILMOGRAPHY
Ousmane Sembène was a Senegalese writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker. In 1961, he studied cinema at the VGIK film school in Moscow. He directed several influential films, including:
• Borom Sarret (1962) – his first short film,
• Niaye (1964),
• La Noire de… (1966) – his first feature film,
• Mandabi (The Money Order) (1968),
• Emitaï (God of Thunder) (1971),
• Xala (1974),
• Ceddo (1977).
Sembène is widely regarded as the father of African cinema, using film as a tool for political and social critique.