Moussa Sene Absa does a nice job portraying the American and French influence in Popenguine from multiple perspectives with many different attitudes in his 1994 film Ça Twiste à Poponguine. The manner in which colonization is depicted in Senegal around the mid 1960s was very light and peaceful.The cultural differences and how others reacted to one another I thought was done very nicely. We are first introduced to these two group of teenagers known as the "Kings" and the "Inseparables". Both of these groups are very into French, American music, clothing, culture and even take on corresponding nicknames. On the other side we are shown a majority of the male elders who are more traditional in style and in general.The male elders were regarded as a father to all and seemed to dislike the younger generations obsession with the western culture from their academics to their clothing. The elder women seem to be a mix of both, although culturally they were more traditional it was as if they had accepted the French influence in academics with some importance and validity as we saw them quizzing the children in the film. Most interesting to me was Mr. Benoits struggle with the cultural differences.Throughout the film we are shown how the people of Popenguine encounters with each other and their multiple cultural points of view. However Mr. Benoit a teacher from France who was highly regarded by the towns people as a good guy seems to be in turmoil. Mr Benoit preaches about how the cultures needed to give and take from one another to make things work. Sadly Mr. Benoits drunken rant in the bar began to say things to the opposite effect however it later turned out that he himself did not who he was or where he belonged and his drunken statements did not represent his true feelings because he actually felt more at home in Popenguine than France. Overall I found this amazing it was as if the colonizer was turning into the victim compared to those who had been colonized. Yet it was the colonized people who helped the colonizer feel at home.

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.

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

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!