Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Kimball Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

princessgemmell Ça Twiste á Popenguine shows the effects of colonization in Popenguine, Senegal. Unlike other Africa writers before him, Absa enlightens us to how colonization can be good for people and how people can make it work for them. The same goes for the whites and the blacks not having to be enemies. This film shows them working together and getting along, healing each other. Ça Twiste á Popenguine is about two rival gangs trying to outdo each other. The Kings have a teppaz, or record player, but no girls. The In's, short for Inseparables, have the girls, and no teppaz. Bacc, the village orphan and messenger boy, believes that the girls "are key". The In's decide to raise the money for their record player by using the old English shadow box tradition, and tell a French story, in their native language of Wolof. The way they combined the different cultures to benefit themselves is amusing, and astonishing, at the same time. Colonization is shown as a positive portrayal of social class. Those who can speak French and know its history are considered well educated. The downside that is shown is that the education is only taught in French. The students are learning nothing of their own heritage. In class the students are called by a French or Arabic name, but outside, amongst themselves, they have renamed themselves to that of their favorite musician. Negating the way the gangs have started to dress and act like their musical influences, the elders of Popenguine believe that colonization is good for them overall. The changes that are taking place in Popenguine, Senegal in this movie are for the overall benefit of the town. The sad part is that they are losing their own heritage in it little by little. This movie is a great opening for someone to understand the benefits but at the same time the pull to be a part of two cultures is heartbreaking.

BlueBerry72 In the film Popenguine, the character Monsieur Benoit is being colonized. His character is very insightful and full of reality. He doesn't know whether he belongs in France or Africa. He feels as if he has no identity but he is accepted by the African village. In this film one can say, he is perceived as a hero to the African villagers. Monsieur's plot focuses on what it is like for someone to battle with where they fit in and how colonization can cause someone to reach their breaking point. The viewers get a good idea of how colonization affects Monsieur Benoit's life and how it affects those around him. His character deals with the dark side of colonization but later on finds the light with the help of the villagers or neighbors. Popenguine was directed and written by Moussa Sene Absa. It was filmed in the country of Senegal and the language spoken is French. It is important because it is one of the few African films that used the French language. Monsieur Benoit teaches his students the language of France. It is important because the African people are learning a different language, and when they speak a different language it changes their identities. If the student doesn't know or speak French they end up being punished. In one specific scene the African woman is showing love to Monsieur Benoit. That is important because it shows the love the African villagers have for Monsieur Benoit. He has a special friendship with the African people. Monsieur Benoit is a single man who is impotent, and one scene that shows this is when he is dunk. He is talking to the pastor about Africa being colonized by France. This is an important scene because it shows that Monsieur Benoit does not know where he belongs whether France or Africa. He feels like an Alien. He also starts to spill out racist remarks and, because of this colonization causes his misery to boil to the top. He is being colonized by France because he was being racist against Africa. A place he is living in at the moment. The African people didn't even try to hurt him but instead they wanted to help him because they didn't see him as racism. They were concerned for him. To them he was family and a good friend. They saw him as one of them. They also felt Monsieur Benoit was just lost and didn't really mean what he said. They understood him. Which is a good example; of the love the African people have for Monsieur Benoit. The actor Jean Francois Balmer played Monsieur Benoit so well. His emotions and delivery really makes the viewer feel sympathy for Monsieur Benoit. In one scene where his emotions come out, and the delivery is amazingly good is when Monsieur Benoit is speaking to Jabeel. They have an argument about children. He mentions, "Children are the future. It must be give and take." The actor's delivery and facial expressions really shows that the character Monsieur Benoit really cares about the children, and they mean a lot to him. One thing that I felt was negative about Monsieur Benoit's character was in the scene I mentioned before when he was drunk and slurred out racist words. They say when someone is drunk the truth comes out. I don't think his character was really racist but why is it when he's drunk he speaks so bad about Africa? When he was sober he seems to love it. He also gets along with the villagers and that is just one thing I got confused about with his character. This film is very inspirational and helps the viewer learn a lot about colonization with African and France. The fact that the director Moussa Sene Absa points out many different issues when it comes to the relationship between France and Africa is very intriguing. I love the fact that he had different views on both of the countries. I would recommend this film to African and French people because I think it would be interesting to see what their reaction to the

Mary Gaffney 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!

poobear0424 Twiste a Popenguine was taken place in the 60's located in Africa. The main characters or the main focal point was the the two teenage "groups" or "gangs," the two groups included the Kings and the Inseparables. The two groups played a major symbolization in the movie. The Kings were more of the American symbol for the American style. In the movie the modern American and French style was demonstrated through the younger adults and the children. As viewer continue to get deeper into the movie they will soon realize that Africa lost their identity and because of this it had a tremendous effect on the people living in Africa. The character Benoit feels that Africa colonized Europe which was said in the movie by this character and he also grew frustrated because he also felt as though he was an alien in Africa and felt stuck between two worlds. The director for this particular movie did a really good job demonstrating all the different symbolizes of Poponguin.