March 2024 Film Club Short Notes

Where is the film set? Europe or Senegal? They’re on a beach, but where?

Recounting their ties to each of their loved ones and how that fueled their reasons to leave. Recalling their decision-making process about leaving. Deeply masculine in this globalized world. The ability to travel for labor, not yet a question of trafficking. Move on from this conversation to Serigne’s death. His burial. In sand. “Espain!” The way they exclaim “Espain!” whenever they pronounce it. Is it real? Is it now? Is it worth it? What is the calculus? How do we decide?

“At least, people would say: Serigne and Alpha died together.” ~10:05 - 10:10.

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The Sound & The Image

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Diegetic. Always the waves and the fire, or perhaps even just blank space covering the background. Ends with organ music. Seems documentary, but feels constructed; narrative. Blurs the line between fiction and non-fiction. 

The image is grainy and dark. Low lit. looks like it hasn’t been color-corrected! Looks like shot on camcorder. The sound and image together feel very gonzo, documentary, but also gies the feeling that it could be either fictional or non-fictional. Difficult to tell! Which makes it an even more interesting watch if you haven’t get seen the full feature. 

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