Rocking Poponguine by Moussa Sene Absa is a movie about the life of the people in Poponguine, a town in Senegal, colonized by the French. It is a town where the youth is influenced by western music from the United States and France, and where the older people in the town are concerned with the youths newly found love for white culture. Absa presents the issues that come with colonization and culture clashes but he also shows how people from different worlds and mindset can learn from each other. This blender of different cultures meeting in Poponguine is the main focus of the movie.The young people in the village are heavily colonized by western music. The two different gangs, the Kings and the Inseparables, are surrounding their lives around western music. In their constant battle to be the best gang with the most girls, parties, and music players, their actions affects the entire village. The older people blame the young ones for not resisting the colonization of the western world. In the end, all the troubles that came with the culture clash will also unite the village."In vino veritas", means that "the truth is in the wine", and it is a Latin phrase that came to mind when Monsieur Benoit speaks his true feelings about the French colonization of Africa. A scene where Monsieur Beniot, a respected white teacher, gets drunk and rants about the supremacy of French culture compared to African. The interesting part of this part of the movie is that it is clear that Monsieur Benoit is also affected by colonization. He is captured in between two worlds. Benoit does not feel like he belongs in neither France nor Senegal. So how is this white man who obviously looks down at African culture so much, saved from his depression? He is saved by the culture that he talked so badly about when he was at the bar. The songs and music from the women and the children of Poponguine is the key to his happiness. The people of Poponguine did something that white people of France would never do to them; they invited him to stay in their town by showing their good hearts and how much they respect his differences. Monsieur Benoit found a reason in that moment to stay in Poponguine.The only professional actor in this movie is the man who symbolizes the colonization of Africa, Monsieur Benoit. All other actors are real people from Senegal. It gives the audience a feeling that Absa wants to present the African people as real Africa, and Monsieur Benoit and colonization as something that does not belong there, something that is not real.The issues surrounding colonization and how people deal with it, is showed in so many interesting ways that the poor budget and lack of technology is not of importance. The audience is given the opportunity to decide whether or not the movie has a happy ending. One might argue that the people of Poponguine show how to unite and come together in a society filled with different cultures and religions. The truth is that this movie is about a people who are experiencing difficulties such as poverty and lack of unity because they are colonized by western culture. While the people of Poponguine are dancing to the sounds of a French rock and roller dressed in an American outfit, the white colonials are resting on the beach at their vacation resort, enjoying the wealth that they acquired by stealing an entire continent.

Interesting, comical, and dramatic can be easily described for Rocking Popguine. It's a very attention grabbing movie in my opinion. The movie allows you to see the influence of the French culture in this town and the importance of it. French education and language was portrayed as being superior. The main character, Bacc, the little boy being raised by the community because his mother left him and ran away to France significance how the culture pulls together to raise the children of the future. Colonialism is often viewed as a bad thing. But in this movie it showed both the good and bad effect it had on the people. It was interesting to see that only French education such as French history was being taught in this little town of Africa. It struck out to me when the "grandmother" told Bacc to create African history and make her proud, to write the history of Africa. The African way of life was being integrated with the American and French traditions and culture. The youth loved to learn the French ways, but the elder generation had a hard time excepting the French ways. It was very interesting to see that these kids wanted to be associated with the French or even American culture rather than their own. Speaking French, listening to French music, deciding their own names based on rock stars.Another problem that was displayed in the movie is how the teacher, Mr. Beniot had a problem with himself. He felt as if he belonged to nowhere. He felt as if he was an alien to France, his home country and to Africa, where he spent most of his time. This conflict showed how he battled the idea of where home was for him, liking things of both French and African culture.It was interesting to see how the children from the movie had two names. The name that they were born with and the French or American name they choose in school. Some children even picked a name off of famous rockstars. The children prefer to go by the names they had picked their own self over the names that were given to them by their families. Music had a great impact on the children in the movie. The "Ins" are influenced by French pop music while the "kings" were influenced by American pop music. It was interesting to see how the rivalry was caused because one group had the girls but no disc player while the other group had the disc player but no girls. I know this movie was not provided a large amount of money to keep up with Hollywood but I would still have to say that it was such a good movie despite that. It was cool, it was fun and best of all it was humorous. Overall what I gained from this movie was how much French culture was incorporated into Africa. The comedy helped earn its points as well.

Ca Twiste Poponguine as it is translated into English rocking Poponguine reflects how Senegal deals with the influence from French and American cultures. Colonialism is presented as being a good thing for the future children of Poponguine because it prepares the children how to deal with the city and prepares them for their journey of possibly going to Paris one day. The children learning the French language is a positive factor because it means that the children are becoming educated for future endeavors. The characters in the movie, mainly the children, have three names. Three names are giving because each name is used in a different setting. The children give themselves American names after the celebrities that they adore, which is used outside for social events, a traditional Wolofe name that was given to them at birth and is used by immediate family and friends and a French name that is used for them when they attend school.Bacc, the main character is an orphan. He is taken care of by his grandmother and others in the community. His mother is said to have been lost in the city. Bacc gets into many accounts of trouble by hustling between the In's and the Kings. The In's group represents the French influence with music and poetry, while the Kings love to listen to James Brown and Jimmy Hendrix. Bacc puts his personal interest above the both groups. His needs come before any of the two groups.M. Benoit is sent from the French government to teach the children about France and the French language. Many in the city love M. Benoit because he has accustomed himself to be like the local by learning to speak their language. He faces the problem of being colonized by the Africans which in turn he should be colonizing them. He reaches a point in the movie to state that he is not sure if he belongs in France or in Poponguine. The people of Poponguine are sure that he belongs there and in turn treat him as if he is a member of the village.At points the movie comes into conflict of language. Some of the Islam's think that the children are losing their African identity because they are speaking the French language instead of their own local tongue. Yet, M. Benoit reminds them that there is a reason for them learning French and that they will not lose their native but only enhance their knowledge of the world and what is taking place in their country. When everything is together the cultures must give and take from each other. Religion comes into play throughout the movie because Islam's believe that their way is the best way.The movie demonstrates how much music can influence an entire culture from clothes, to dance and even the way children write and speak. Regardless of what culture the music comes from a country one must give and take to make the music their own.This movie shows that greatness can be achieved even when colonization has taken place in the country. Each country is benefiting and learning from each other therefore improving the countries on both ends of the colonization.

Ça Twiste á Popenguine is a film that educated, entertained me, and warmed my heart. The story is based on two gangs in Popenguine, Senegal. As the film progresses, it shows the different languages that are spoken in Africa as well as romance between young characters. The film also integrated a lot of humor into its story with its young romances and wardrobe choices for some of the gang members. The director shows the colonization in Senegal and how the people are being influences by America and France. The film does a fine job at showing us that the Africans have much to offer just as the Europeans do. Africans may lack the education and language barriers but they thrive in the love for their culture and people. The film brings enjoyment to the audience when the school's French teacher, Mr. Benoit, is finally connecting with the African culture. This is shown through the people of Senegal singing to him and bringing them into their land completely. It very much reminded me of James Cameron's Avatar where the people of Pandora invite the outside, Jake Sully, into their land and show him not to be afraid. The feeling I got from Avatar was similar to the feeling I got while watching this film. The people of Pandora seem scary to Jake Sully, until he is shown their land and ways of life. He soon realizes their love for culture and that same realization is brought to Mr. Benoit.The film showed how strong their traditions were through music, dance, and religion. After watching how they lived their lives, it made me feel nostalgic for a culture I've never had. A culture that is so full of happiness and old tradition is something I think a lot of cultures lack. This film inspired me, made me laugh, and educated me on the traditions of Africa and Colonization. The film shows some hardships but with added humor. The film sheds a positive light on the people of Africa and I highly recommend the film!