Borom Sarret. 1963. Directed by Ousmane Sembene.

(1/14/01)

At the beginning of Borom Sarret a man makes a prayer, asking God to protect him from the law, or law-makers, or the police. It is interesting that the law is viewed not as something that protects, but as something to be feared. And this is certainly reinforced by the rest of the film--the police officer who confiscate the Borom Sarret's cart and lets his customer skip without paying does not administer justice. Back in his section of the town, he says he feels safer there because there are no police around.

There is a priest or singer of some sort who tells the borom sarret about the glories of his ancestors. That certainly doesn't do him any good. If anything, it makes him feel more acutely how far he and his people have fallen.

When this sarret, this cart-driver walks through the streets, thinking about losing his cart, it just doesn't feel that sad. His words are certainly dejected enough, but they don't hit me emotionally. I don't know if that was the way it was intended.

At the end of the film his wife assures him that they will eat that night and leaves. How is she going to provide for them? The thing that comes to my mind is prostitution, but I don't know for sure if that is the way the ending was meant to be understood.