Le franc

After the monumental Hyenas, which took seven years to film, Mambéty returned to contemporary Senegal to tell the story of a musician named Marigo and his attempts to further his career in a country suffering from a sharp devaluation in its currency, and to avoid his landlady to whom he owes six months’ rent. As it used to be at the time, the streets in Le Franc are full of people wandering around, trying to scrabble enough together to get something to eat, seeking salvation in lottery tickets or in the pockets of a careless shopper. Marigo sails through these scenes with a grace, skill and optimism that Mambéty captures expertly on film. (Mar del Plata International FF)