LA PIROGUE

Senegal, 2012, 87 minutes, Colour
Directed by Moussa Toure.

La Pirogue is a film from Western Africa, from Senegal. It is an earnest film, reflecting ways of life in the country as well as poverty, difficulties and the desire to migrate to Europe. It is a story that is applicable to many countries of northern Africa.

It is also topical for other areas of the world, including Asia and the Pacific. It highlights the dangers of ordinary people setting out on unreliable boats, with unreliable crew, victims of paying up to people smugglers, unscrupulous in packing the boats, getting the money.

The film opens colourfully, with crowds enjoying two famous wrestlers, the preparations for a bout and the contest. It then moves to more serious themes, the man who could captain the boat, his relationship with his wife and family, the dangers. He has friends who are in contact with the people smugglers. He finally decides to go, finding that there are more refugees from Guinea who cannot speak the local language.

While at sea, some passengers become sick, others die. There is a man with mental problems who has his own chicken and who has two have his mouth taped so that people can get sleep. We also see some of the ambitions of the refugees, a musician wanting to team up with a band, others finding relatives in Andalusia. Spain is the desired target for their voyage. At one time, becalmed, they encounter another ship with some of the passengers swimming to them, whom they take on board, but move away very quickly.

It is a diminished group who finally arrive in Spain, go through the procedures on arrival – but it is left to the audiences’ imagination as to what happens to the refugees.

1. Topical film? Refugees? Sea voyages? Hopes, frustrations, disasters?

2. The Senegalese setting? The way of life, the city, homes, jobs, fishing, boats? An authentic feel?

3. The opening, the ceremonies, the crowds, the two wrestlers, the wrestling match?

4. Ordinary people, the men, friendships, the boats? Families? No good fishing?

5. The people smugglers, their power, influences, deals? Rounding up refugees, hiding them on the boat?

6. The decision to go, the pressure on the captain? Farewell to his wife? His reassurances?

7. The extra refugees, not knowing the language? Communication? The later encounter with the sinking boat? Taking only a few refugees who swam towards them? The others?

8. Conditions on the boat, food and water, the sun, becalmed? The engine, need for the wind? Repairs?

9. The man with mental problems, gagging him? His hen? The later killing and eating it?

10. Illness, deaths, bodies overboard?

11. The hopes of Spain, the calculations about the trip, the coastguard and taking the refugees on board?

12. Spain, the interrogations, the possibilities for the refugees, finding family, going to France, playing in bands, going to farms in the south?

13. Realistic look at the plight of refugees from Africa to Europe?