All language subtitles for Ousmane Sembene - Guelwaar

Who's there?

Aloys!

Yes, mother.

Mother...

Father passed away.

Eli!

Where is Bathelemy?

At the hotel.

Eli!

What will I become without him?

Mother, we're here with you
and we'll support you.

Mother...

Mother, here's the wedding ring.

Aunt, my condolences.

Thank you.

-My condolences.
-Thank you.

Father Leon...

The will of Pierre

is that his requiem mass
be given in Latin.

The will of the deceased

will be respected.

He will have such a mass?

Yes, the mass will be given in Latin.

Thank you, Father.

Father, something has happened.

What?

-My father's body has disappeared.
-Disappeared?

Yes, yes.

How is that possible?

We were supposed to prepare it...

The body disappeared from the morgue...

as well as in all of the hospital.

The funeral march was
planned for 10:00am.

Yes.

And now...

it's 11 o'clock.

We're waiting for Bathelemy to find
out. He went to the police.

Daouda, you break down
your mother's door,

you tie her down

and you rape your sister.

No, I didn't rape her.

-How's that?
-You act like a vagabond

Where is the childrens' father?

He ran away...

after my last pregnancy.

It's better to die,

than have a son or husband
in this world.

Alright, see you next time!

Peace be with you.

-The best to your family.
-I won't miss it.

Have a seat.

Sorry to have made you wait.

I'm listening.

My father's body disappeared
from the hospital's morgue.

What? You said "disappeared?"

Yes, disappeared.

He wasn't revived?

No. He died in my arms,

and the doctor confirmed it.

Indeed. What's your father's name?

Pierre Henri Thioune.

His burial was
scheduled for this morning.

That was the plan

but when we came to prepare the
body, we didn't find him.

By the way, can I use your phone?

What's the number?

Here's Mr. Fall's number,

who is the General of the Presidency
of the Republic in Dakar.

Mr. Barthelemy, if it is
strictly personal,

you can dial
the number yourself.

But if it's about your case,

I'm in charge in this area

I'm coming with you to the hospital.

Gascon?

Yes, sir?

Keep an eye on the squad.

Yes, sir.

Some Africa!

The funeral march was
planned for 10:00.

I can't wait any longer.

Ten 'till twelve!

What's going on?

My maid is out, and my children
have to come back from school.

Alright, I'll drop you off and then
pass by the mortuary.

-Who did you sell the body to?
-Let God save me!

-Tell me or I'll lock you up!
-God save me!

What is this nonsense?

Don't you know that cadavers are
stolen to be used for fetishes?

Nonsense!

More likely it's a result of the
administration's incompetence.

What nonsense!

Tell the police I'm in the room.

Father Leon,

Can you believe that the old
man's body disappeared?

Barthelemy,

if you don't respect your father,
respect the dead.

Alloys, what are we waiting for?

We're waiting for Gora. He's inside.

Hello, Father. Mr. Barthelemy, we
found out what happened.

A body was taken in error.

Father, I have nothing to do with this.

I don't want to lose my job.

Go in peace.

Thank you, Father.

So the body couldn't have
been removed this morning?

I would say in the daytime.

What?!

Barthelemy, even in France
people make similar mistakes.

In spite of your pain, calm down.

So, I'll take Barthelemy with me.

We'll go to this village together.

My sincere condolences.

Thank you.

You live in Paris?

Yes.

I've never had the luck
to go to Europe.

My father's death was caused
by many blows -

an internal hemmorage,
according to the doctors.

And yet no one pressed charges
for assault and battery.

What a country!

I have a vague memory of your father...

-Hey Gascon.
-Hey, boss.

How are you, uncle Guelwaar?

Good.

I'm here to report to you, as the
administration's representative,

that delinquents are disrupting
the Catholic women's meetings.

Why didn't the women come themselves?

Because the delinquents are
attacking my house

and are trying to intimidate the women.

So, you don't want your
property to be destroyed.

By the way, uncle...

two weeks ago,

three young people had their
arms broken in this district.

Haha! The district is huge, Gora!

I'd like to meet the ones

who broke their arms.

If I were you, I'd try to find out why

they "only" broke their arms.

Look, uncle. That's a good idea.

You can help me find out

why they "only" broke their arms.

I don't know why, Gora.

But one-armed peasants...

that's mean.

So men are coming and intimidating

the women who are
meeting at your place.

These women, or this woman's
guild... what do they talk about?

Gora, that's not a secret to anyone.

They talk about starvation,

about the drought,

about the misappropriation of
donations intended for the country -

donations that are sold or given

by members of the party -

about illegal enrichment,

about thieves of public goods,

about death, about baptism,

about Christian solidarity,
about our faith,

and this is a secret to no one.

So they're talking
poilitics at your place.

Aren't we full-fledged citizens?

Is there a law that forbids us

to talk about the catastrophic
situation in our country?

No.

-Gascon?
-Yes, sir?

-Take his statement.
-Yes, sir.

My statement, my statement.

My statement is already written.

It's even signed.

It's signed by the ten oldest
Catholics in the district

who want me to tell you

that, even though we're Christian,

we won't turn the other cheek.

Thank you for listening.

Aloys, our sincere condolences.

We share the same pain.

This is for the funeral meal.

Etienne, what is this cross?

We went to the cemetery to put
it at Guelwaar's tomb.

Apparently, his body disappeared.

We came to give our condolences
to grandma Nogoy.

There's no space
inside for all of you.

You two follow me.

Leave the cross here.

Mari,

Etienne and his friends came
to give their condolences.

Thank you, children.

He was your friend.

Pray for him.

Aloys, my condolences.

Tell me...

How can a cadaver
disappear from a morgue?

I'm so shocked by all this.

I understand why.

From 10 to 12, I was at
the morgue for the body's removal.

My dear Lucien, you must know

that the search for power can
push people to do such things.s

But not to steal from
a Christian's body.

You must know well that
these people choose

their victims outside the family,
ethnic or denominational.

That's Africa, Lucien.

But tell me, last month I had an
overdraft. This month too.

-Will you think about me?
-It's taken care of.

-Ah, alright. Thanks again.
-It's nothing.

-See you soon.
-Thanks.

Tell Veronique

that our tontine

is used for this kind of ceremony.

That's me, eldest of the
elders who says so.

Father Leon.

It's Alfred.

He's late again.

He's going to complain.

He has to pay a fine of 1,000 francs.

-My condolences.
-Thank you.

Gor Mag.

I know, I'm late again.

You've made a habit of it.

Excuse me.

My condolences.

Eldest of the elders,

The Lamanes are here
at the other door.

Greetings, Father.

Our condolences, nephew.

Thank you, my uncles.

That's our contribution
for the funeral meal.

Gor Mag,

our condolences.

Thank you, Lamane.

Veronique, take care of
the young goats.

Come in, Dibocor.

Nogoy is inside.

Gora.

Meyssa Ciss was buried
four days ago.

-Is he buried in your cemetery?
-Yes.

Yamar and I went to
fetch the cadaver in Thies.

Once we arrived in the village,

Laiti and I prepared it.

And the Imam?

The Imam wasn't there.

He was with his 4th wife.

Did they give you a
paper at the morgue?

Yes.

Well where is it?

I gave it to the deceased's brother.

Baye Aly, as head of the village,
take me to Mor Ciss' place.

Let's go.

Gora,

before going to see Mor Ciss,

go give your condolences
to the widows.

I'll follow you.

Aminta,

some visitors are coming.

-Hello.
-Hello.

The officer came
to give his condolences.

-My condolences.
-Thank you.

God bless you.

Is Mor Ciss there?

Yes.

-I'd like to see him.
-Go ahead.

Thank you. Have a good day.

Oumy, hide the bills
before the kids come.

-Hello.
-Hello.

Gora, we already paid our taxes.

I didn't come for taxes.

You must have the death certificate
for Meyssa Ciss' cadaver.

Yes.

Could I see it?

Yamar,

bring me the satchel where
I keep the paperwork.

On my way.

Mor, I'm thirsty.

Khady,

bring something to drink.

-Gora, excuse me.
-It's nothing.

Here it is.

Thank you.

Read it. I think this is the paper.

Did you read this?

No... no!

I can't read French,

but this is Meyssa's paper.

No... no!

This is Pierre Henri Thioune
Guelwaar's paper, a Catholic!

The body you buried
isn't Meyssa Ciss'!

What?!

An atheist?!

My God!

Gora, are you crazy?!

How can you say that?!

Gora, if you weren't a policeman,

I'd smash your face in!

Mor.

Mor, calm down. Calm down.

Yamar - go fetch Samba, who
prepared and buried the body.

On my way.

Gora, what do you plan on doing?

-Open the tomb.
-Open?!

Open the tomb!

Never! Never! No one will open it!

Gora, you're abusing your power.

Nobody will intimidate
the Ciss family.

Oumy,

why are the men screaming like that?

Did Mor forget that we're mourning?

Sounds like slitting a goat's throat.

Mor,

this is Samba. He takes care of the
cleansing at the mortuary

and buried the body.

I took care of the cleansing,
as is the will of God.

As the Imam wasn't there,

Ismail lead the prayer
at the cemetery.

Samba,

what time was the burial?

The morning? Afternoon?
Dusk? Or a little later?

We arrived here

after the dusk prayer.

I took care of the cleansing and

we finished the last prayer
at the cemetery.

During the cleansing,

did you look at the deceased's face?

Wait... wait...

When you took the body
out of the morgue's cold room,

did you lift the sheet
that covered it?

In Thies, I was with Yamar.

We took the body out of the
chest where we put the dead.

It was covered in a sheet.

But during the cleansing

it was really dark.

So you didn't see the deceased's face.

-Yamar, you too?
-That's enough!

Gora, Baye Aly, Samba,

get out of my place!

Leave!

Out! Get out!

Gora! Hit the road!

Don't come back!

Officer!

Tell me, what is this nonsense?

You're making me stand
around like an idiot.

Have a little patience.

You're Senegalese,
you must understand.

Senegalese? Hah!

You make me laugh.

Look at this.

I'm French.

European.

"European Community,
French Republic."

Monsieur is a foreigner in Senegal.

So...

Go see your ambassador.

Say that you lost your father in Senegal.

As you're a foreigner, I ask that
you wait for me there.

If you're in a rush, you're free
to try and make it alone.

Why do you, the leaders,

always speak in French
in front of peasants?

Baye Aly, that's a white man.

A white man who's also black?

-And he understands none of our language?
-None.

What a shame. Another copy.

Father, here's some beer.

Thanks, water is fine.

I'll bring some.

Eldest of the elders,
have a good meal.

You're not eating anymore.

No. I'm going to wash my hands.

What if we don't find
Pierre Henri's body?

Eli!

I would prefer to have to tell Nogoy

about her husband's death,

brutal as it was, than to tell her
that her husband won't have a tomb.

Gor Mag.

As the eldest person,
if that is the case,

the responsibility will be yours.

Mother.

Mother, you called me?

No, Sophie.

Mother, I heard your voice call me.

Sophie, I didn't call you.

I haven't seen Barthelemy
since this morning.

He's taking care of the preparations.

I was really ashamed this morning

in front of the parents and friends.

I was so embarrassed by the delay.

Three times, I heard him call me.

Mom,

rest a little bit.

Guelwaar,

we are alone.

And you're going to listen
to me for once.

Today, I'm going to tell you
my four truths.

You're the first man I knew.

You're the only man I knew.

I honored you with seven children.

Four died,

three remain.

Barthelemy became a
man and left to France.

Sophie, our only daughter,
is a whore in Dakar.

Aloys, in whom I put all my hope,

is afflicted with a handicap.

He's useless.

Guelwaar, your legacy is
too heavy for a woman.

30 years of communal life,

30 years of supporting your
pig-like character.

Never any concessions.

Did you think of me?!

Your peers praised your pride in life,

this fateful day

they're in your residence

to stuff their faces.

Guelwaar, what will I become?

Our next meeting
will be a firey one.

Aloys, you have to hide the coffin,
get it out of my mother's sight.

Where?

You can ask a neighbor for help.

Hearing you speak, I realize that
you don't live here anymore.

Hey! You can't blame me,

it's the life I lead in Dakar
that gets you by here.

No, Sophie.

We don't understand each other.

Rumor has it that father's
body was stolen by fetishists.

Catholics and Muslims

are scared to death of having
the coffin in their home.

And if that were true?

I think so too.

Pray that Barthelemy finds the body.

While waiting, I'll find a solution
for the coffin.

It was received by the entire
community, not only Christians,

but everyone in this country.

A gift from God, a show of mercy.

Look at that girl.

She's not bad.

It's hot.

Yes, yes.

Really hot.

Are you one of Sophie's friends?

Yes.

What's your name?

Helene.

My name is Helene Sene.

Sophie and I work together in Dakar.

Do you still have parents?

I'm from the coast.

My parents are alive.

I have 5 brothers and sisters,

not to mention cousins

and their children.

After I got my diploma,

I went to Dakar hoping to find work.

I looked for three months

then 6 months.

But nothing.

I became a prostitute

with a professional ID card.

Every week,

I have a medical visit.

I'm so scared of AIDS.

That doesn't stop me,

as every month

I send money to my family.

Nobody in the family begs.

My youngest brother enrolled in
medical school this year.

I have to help him.

I paid my father

for his trip to Yamassoukro

for the consecration of Notre Dame of Peace.

Father.

You see this?

He brought this back for me.

It looks like it was
blessed by the Pope.

Sophie

paid for her father's pilgrimage.

You know where?

Jerusalem.

It's good to confide.

Did you welcome the Pope
when he arrived in Dakar?

Yes, I was among the first.

Don't judge out of fear

to be judged yourself.

Gospel speech!

I just ask

that you dress
yourself appropriately.

This house is in mourning.

Father, I'm ashamed.

Why?

I feel naked.

Follow me, I'll accompany you.

-What's going on?
-Baye Aly.

You're doing politics

and are enjoying all the power.

Leader of the village,

delegate, party spokesman,

President of the cooperative.

And don't forget

that we know how you use donations.

In the tomb over there

lies Meyssa Ciss.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Have you forgotten

that I'm the head of the village

and that I represent
the Deputy Mayor here?

Did you forget that?

Baye Aly,

you're only important as long
as we keep our mouths shut.

And you know it!

What Ndoffene told you is true.

In that tomb over there,

that's where Meyssa Ciss rests.

Ah! I understand now.

You want my place.

That won't be easy.

Tonight, Baye Aly,

consult your elbow
before going to sleep.

You understand?

Yamar Ciss, Mor Ciss, let's go.

We've arrived in the city.

As a foreigner, respect the
host country's laws.

You're not dropping me off
at the mortuary?

We've spent enough of Senegalese
taxpayer's money on gas.

When you get to your hotel, call
your French embassy.

Here's the name of the village.

Best be there tomorrow morning.

The station is on the other side.

Let's go, Gascon.

What's the news?

I found the body.

Where did you leave it?

It's buried in a Muslim cemetery.

What do you mean,
in a Muslim cemetery?

Did you open the grave?

No, I didn't open it.

It's in what village?

Chez Baye Aly.

I know Baye Aly and their Imam, Biram.

It's time to tell
Nogoy Marie the truth.

Wait. First, I'm going
to have everyone leave.

The mourners have to leave.
It's night.

Father, I understand well.

I have nothing against Muslims.

Pierre and I traveled
with the youth.

I know Baye Aly and Biram very well,

but we're a different religion.

Pierre's will

is to be buried in a
Christian cemetery.

How can I go on All Saint's day

or on Sundays

and pray in a Muslim cemetery?

Father, eldest of the elders

I confess to you that,

when I die, bury me in a
Catholic cemetery

next to my husband.

Tomorrow, I will go with you.

Father,

you don't have to wait for us at the
door of the church.

Tomorrow you'll come with us.
We'll go get the body.

Eldest of the elders, I free you.

Veronique,

stay. I need you.

Vero,

I'm hungry.

There's some couscous.

Did you make it?

No, Julienne did.

She makes it just as good as ever.

Bring some.

I'm sure you haven't
eaten all day eitehr.

Hello, Oumy.

Did you have a good night?

No. To think that I'm
mourning an atheist

kept me from getting a wink of sleep.

It's really your husband

who is in that tomb.

The people want to humiliate us,
the Ciss',

and we won't take it.

Mor,

I'm going to leave this house.

I'm not going to live four months
and ten days as a hermit.

I'm going to my parents' place.

Oumy,

you don't have the right
to leave this house

during mourning.

Did you speak to the Imam?

And if you were pregnant?

Me, pregnant?

Pregnant?

From you? Or from Meyssa?

Oumy, stay.

For you,

I will renounce my four wives.

Listen, Mor.

It's over between us.

Completely finished.

I'm still young.

Look at my skin.

Look closely.

I don't know who you'll sleep with

but it won't be with me.

Gueuse,

if you leave this house,

your father will pay dearly for it.

You're going to beat me?

If you touch me, I'll scream.

And I'll talk.

You're a real whore.

I became a whore

since we stopped going
together in the brush.

I'll point out to you that

the two kids I had during the marriage,
who dawdle around the village,

are yours.

And the whole village talks about it.

Does it bother you to know that
I'm not spreading my legs anymore?

-Hello Ciss.
-Hello Sow.

Oumy,

you made him crazy,
but don't push him over the edge.

Aminta, I'm not going to
mourn anymore.

I'm going back to my parents'.

I saw your business.

To leave, go around because

a lot of people can see you.

And then bring the kids with you.

Never. I'm leaving the kids here.

Give me all my belongings.

This is the village cemetery.

We're going to enter
and take the remains.

Give me the shovel!

How can we recognize our grave?

A newly-dug grave
is easy to recognize.

How do you recognize

a 4-day-old grave
with all the dust and sun?

Alfred,

you'll stay here and wait.

Father,

Dibocor, Aloys:

Barthelemy is going to visit the
head of the village and the Imam.

Nogoy Marie,

I'm going out with Gor Mag.

Pierre, are you going to the
distribution of donations meeting?

You just worry about
the work in the house.

Pierre Henri Thioune,

do you know what our
daughter Sophie does in Dakar?

No. What does she do?

Sophie works as a whore to feed us.

Don't you know that I prefer

to see her as a whore than
to see her panhandling?

Rather dead than begging.

Pierre, what do you do
about my dignity as a mother?

Sophie is in Dakar.

Barthelemy is in France.

Aloys is here and helps you.

Aloys.

That cripple is useless to me.

Foolishness.

I would prefer to feed myself from charity

than to know about the life my
daughter leads in Dakar.

Nogoy Marie,

do you think that we could have

lived these 30 years of marriage with nothing?

Misfortune to the head of the family

who, with his children, waits
for his means of support from others.

Me,

Pierre Henri Thioune Guelwaar,

never from another

will I wait for my food.

I'd rather die.

Guelwaar,

release yourself from your shell of pride

so you can live with your fellow men.

Nogoy Marie, I'm sure
I'll find you here later.

Pierre?

Don't respond.

He's in another world.

-I heard him call me.
-What?!

What will I become?

What will I become?

Mother, I'm here.

You're going to come live
with me in Dakar.

Live with you,

with the life you lead
in Dakar, never!

Mother, we've already talked about my life.

Aloys will stay
in the village with you.

Oh! Jesus!

Why didn't I die before your father?

Nogoy, it's a sin to say that.

We're here. You won't be abandoned.

My Guelwaar has left.

My hero has left. What will
I become all alone?

-Hello.
-Hello.

Excuse my tardiness.

Now that everyone's here,

we can get started.

Baye Aly, why did you
gather all these people?

This isn't a political meeting.

I didn't summon all these people.

Neither did the party.

These people aren't from the village.

We know

that Sharia allows us
to open the tomb

if there's some doubt concerning
the identity of the cadaver.

In this tomb,

our elder Meyssa Ciss lies.

And we will allow no one to open it.

Not even you, a policeman.

Mor Ciss, are you deaf?

Here's the record of
deaths from the hospital,

two certificates of death and
authorization to remove the body.

The one buried in your cemetery

is definitely Pierre Henri Thione,
for God's sake!

Why don't you leave
the body where it is?

Even if it's a Christian

by our Muslim ritual,
his body is absolved.

He will not know Hell.

You lie!

Your religion is not
superior to ours!

Would you leave your father's body
in a Christian cemetery?

-Little brat, you know who you're
talking to?
-Bastard!

This man is your father's age.
I'm going to smash your face in.

Don't touch him!

-He killed him.
-Don't move!

The first one who lifts a finger,

I'll beat him like a dog!

Gora, get out!

Dibocor, Gor Mag, Barthelemy,
get out!

-Gascon!
-Yes sir?

-Cover me!
-Yes sir.

Barthelemy hurry up!

The first one to move,
I'll beat like a dog.

Get out of here!

You're all cowards.

If the atheists don't leave,

we will kill them.

The atheists bought you.

You're no longer our Imam.

These are the others who chose me.

The Christians invaded our cemetery.

They're desecrating the graves.

The Christians invaded our cemetery.

They're desecating the graves.

Baye Aly, we all have
to kill them now.

The Christians invaded our cemetery.

Baye Aly and the others are there.

Ismail.

If it be so,
let's go to the cemetery.

Even dead, Pierre Henri
challenges us.

Alfred,

do you remember his love affair with
Muezzin's wife?

Who are you talking to about that?

During this time I was instituted
in this village.

Pierre conquered Muezzin's wife.

To rejoin his lady love
in the husband's house,

Pierre dressed up

like an old woman.

You had to see him.

And that lasted all season.

When he arrived,

he took her in the cabin

and passed right under his nose
again and again.

Over and over.

One day,

an actual old woman
denounced the wife.

And so from a romantic visit,

three muscly men

jumped on Pierre.

And, completely naked, he ran away.

This is a cross.
Because of this cross,

the only Catholic of the village,

the Muslims wanted to kill me.

Fortunately, the students saw

that I hadn't left the class.

-Gascon, you stay nearby.
-Yes, sir.

What happened?

They attacked us and hurt the Father.

They're coming here armed.

Sophie,

take care of the Father.

Officer,

aren't you going to do anything
about the attacks?

I'm going to press charges for attempted
assassination by an organized group.

Complain to your ambassador, Frenchman,
but don't be ridiculous!

I saved you from certain death.

Nonsense!

You manipulate things to rally
the Muslim fundamentalists

into positions of power.

And you - you're in a rush to
get your father's body back.

You run off to France.

By the way,

do you know that, every year,

young Frenchmen come to
help the peasants.

Isn't that nice?

You're really going to give
me a hard time, huh?

Why dont ya tell me, officer...

Speak to me with respect!

I'm a head officer,
for your information!

OK... OK...

Leading officer.

But... haven't you read that the
food donations

meant for the peasants
were misappropriated?

That these maggots were
stealing from the people

to benefit a minority of the rulers

to build villas or castles
or apartments in Europe?

And such huge amounts of money

stolen from the people

sitting in European banks!

And that all these ill-gotten gains

overtake even the heads
of their countries.

Indeed, I've read some articles
in this respect.

Ah you're kidding me now, Major.

You're a trustworthy man, Major.

Everywhere on the continent,
the youth are moving.

to break out of the straightjacket
of a single-party ruling -

impose democracy, often at
the cost of their lives.

Yes.

The African youth
does very good work.

Speaking of which, Mr. Thioune,
tell me...

on which side does your action stand?

Did you voluntarily choose
to go into exile?

I mean, your flight to more mild climates?

Mr. Thioune,

go join your brothers in religion.

I won't say "your compatriats."

We have to kill them.

To kill an atheist is an act of piety."

Death to the Christians.

The Christians

came to desecrate our graves.

We can't accept this.

Baye Aly, you're responsible for
anything that can happen.

It's you. You and the Christians
have teamed up.

We're not scared of your gun.

You, Gora,

I'll drag you to the center.

I'll explain how you
treat the peasants.

And I'll not that we know about
your political skulduggery.

That's true!

You misappropriate the donations
meant for the peasants.

What you call "aid to comprehension"...

we know what it is.

It's true!

Nobody has entered your cemetery.

And you, Mor Ciss,

I saw you slap the Father.
If he presses charges, you're cooked.

Me?!

You!

The deputy mayor is coming.

We're waiting for him here.

OK. You wait for the prefect and
deputy mayor here.

Hey! Hault!

Stop there.

Why are you stopping us?

This cemetery doesn't belong to you.

They attack us, and you don't
want us to defend ourselves.

OK! Nobody will attack you anymore!

You're a policeman and
the same religion as them.

You want to deter us.

We will not leave here without
our brother's body.

Enough is enough.

Gor Mag, go back to your place.

Father, take them back.s

Hey Barthelemy,
you're wearing glasses now?

Well, yes.

A bug stung me.

Some medicine can take care of that.

I just spoke to your mother.

She's scared of being left alone...

abandoned.

Father,

my family and I talked to my mother.

She's going to live in Dakar

with Sophie.

Oh! Your mother cannot live with Sophie

and you know why.

You seem to approve of the life
your sister leads.

No.

No.

No one likes to see his sister, or
his daughter, work as a prostitute.

But, on the other hand, we
don't blame the condemned

Don't pity having virtues

in misery and poverty.

Nogoy Marie,

the Father is talking to Barthelemy.

-Grandmother, do you want a drink?
-No, thank you.

Father, do you want a drink?

Thank you, Etienne.

Barthelemy?

Thank you, Etienne.

Hey! The Imam is coming!

Father! Father Leon!

Nogoy Marie is sitting
under the tree.

I would be too ashamed
to see her now.

In a house of mourning,
there is no shame.

But everone has their head down.

Our ancesters know evidence.

What's happening to our people?

Biram, what did you ask me?

What's happening to our people?

What's happening to our people?

They are drifting.

We were circumcised
on the same mortar:

Catholics, Muslims,

had the same ceremony.

The blood from our foreskin
coagulated on the same mortar

to the joy of our parents.

Today, we are losing our cultural
references one after the other.

Theft, the misappropriation
of the people's money

have become heroic values.

The atrophy is profound.

Listen to the people who rule us
speak, not rich whites of of the past.

They don't speak our
languages anymore.

Parrots.

To the dean's advice,

we put Guelwaar in charge of
denouncing the depravation,

because we are an assisted people.

He did it at the
donation distribution meeting.

Someone assassinated him.

And we, out of cowardice,

we remained silent.

And now,

the guilt gnaws at us.

We are Catholics.

Our brother in religion,

Pierre Henri Thioune Guelwaar,

is burried in your cemetery.

And his children who watch us...

what are we going to tell them?

Gor Mag...

I heard your words,

and understand what you mean.

Mor Ciss and Baye Aly,

you must open the tomb,
because your acts are against Islam.

This grave

will be opened by no one.

Sold.

Whoever comes into this
cemetery will die.

Stop!

You will not come into this cemetery.

Ciss, do you think you can
lie to everyone?

You, Imam, are the liar.

You, the Ciss, are the liars.

The entire village
knows of your immorality.

My God!

The Imam killed Yamar Ciss!

The first one to move, I'll skewer
his mother! Get out of the way!

The Imam blasphemed!

Finally the mayor is coming.

God, forgive me.

Park the Mercedes at the entrance.

Chief.

This is the cemetery

that the Deputy told you about.

He was in session at the assembly.

The distress call was made
by the head of the village,

Baye Aly.

After his meeting with the Governor, the
Governor ordered me to come with him.

So what's the story here exactly?

An administrative error.

The Ciss family made
a mistake with the body.

Mor Ciss refuses to open the tomb.

This morning he got all the
thugs to fend them off.

And the Imam?

The Imam advised him
to open the tomb,

But the head of the village
and the Ciss refuse.

Baye Aly and the Ciss are old
stumps with many alliances.

But whose body are the
Catholics are claiming?

Pierre Henri Thioune,
called Guelwaar.

Damn!

His funeral was yesterday.

Yesterday, his kids discovered the
disappearance of Guelwaar's body.

I managed to locate the cemetery.

LONG LIVE NORTH
& SOUTH COOPERATION

Before I give the floor
to our Deputy Fall,

we'll pass it to our eldest
citizen, Guelwaar.

You point your index
finger at the horizon,

to show the way to the foreigner.

but opening your palm
to a passerby...

that's begging.

Our leaders gathered us here.

You know why?

Only to welcome these donations.

And then our leaders

profusely give thanks,

in our name,

to all of our illustrious
benefactors.

And our leaders

jubilant,

strut around

in front of us, as if
these donations

were the fruits of their labor.

As for us,

we mute people,

without any dignity,

we dance in front of this aid.

What humiliation!

When will we realize

that a family can't be built,

Shut him up!

He's spoken in public
for the last time.

cannot solidify, cannot take root

in perpetual begging?

And this donation scene

has repeated itself for 30
years here and elsewhere.

This frequently-distributed aid

is killing us.

It's killing

every vague attempt at pride
and dignity in us.

And these small tribes

that offer us,

with false bravado,

laugh at us behind our backs.

And at our sons and daughters,

who live among these people,

to the foreigner,

are humiliated by it.

Admittedly,

we are plagued

by all sorts of disasters.

And so, it's up to us to confront,

not up to others!

It's up to us alone.

Our ancester Kocc Barma said:

"If you want to kill a proud man,

give him what he needs
to live every day.

In the long run you've
made him a serf."

Yes! A serf!

Every time, this aid kills

a little more of our will

to confront the climatic adversity.

The drought,

famine and diseases
are not disgraces.

The disgrace is when

an entire people waits

for another people

to feed and clothe them.

And this people

will only have one word

from generation to generation:

Thank you,

Thank you, thank you.

After his attack, did he
die in the hospital?

I can't comment on the attack.

But it's all been printed by
international press in high places.

We have to take care of
this problem quietly.

Chief, Deputy, greetings.

Hello Mr...

Barthelemy.

We came to take the body of
Pierre Henri Thioune.

Your goal is to destabilize
my region.

The body is not in this cemetery!

Know that Islam is a
traditional religion.

So there, you've covered yourself.

Where does your
religion come from?

Don't tell me it came from
a book, or from Nigeria.

"Traditional," you say.

But, you make pilgrimages to Mecca.

Thats's in Saudi Arabia,
from what I know.

We, Christians, we go to Israel.

To Jerusalem.

Isn't all that traditional?

Who do you think you are?!

And you?

Who are you?

I am the Deputy Mayor.

I'm a Senegalese citizen.

Son of Pierre Henri Thioune,

Victim of an assassination

His body is in this cemetery.

And there,

those are Senegalese citizens

of the Christian faith.

You can't

express yourself in our
mother tongue.

We came to take the body.

We won't leave again without it.

You heard me.

Father!

There's no proof that
Pierre Henri's body

is here in this cemetery.

Yes there is.

Here are the certificates of death,

One for Pierre Henri Thioune,
known as Guelwaar.

Meyssa Ciss' body is
still at the morgue.

So why didn't you bring the body?

Know, Deputy, that the police
aren't in the funeral business.

Was it you, Chief, that called
the security forces?

It was I, Deputy! I alone!

Ok, Major Gora. You can pass.

But I hope that these forces
aren't meant for the villagers.

If the villagers obstruct our work,

the security forces will react
with all means at their disposal.

Isn't that right, Mr. Deputy who
voted that law in at the assembly?

Are you crazy?

He's crazy.

Deputy,

we must avoid a fight between
the Catholics and Muslims.

The rumor persists that Guelwaar
died as a result of the attack.

It's spreading, even.

And if the opposition and the
international press has its say...

Do you see what I mean?

And the elections are
coming soon for you.

You have to talk to them.

The police are there.

Those who want to stay, stay.

Those who are scared
only have to leave!

I am staying!

I came with the Chief.

Let's allow the police

to open the tomb and check.

I ask you to remain calm,

that everyone return to their home.

Mor Ciss, show me the grave!

No one will show it to you!

In this croud,
no one will show it to you!

No one will show you!

I don't know where the grave is,

and no one wants to
tell me where it is.

I can't open all of them!

Dealing with the peasants
is your problem, officer.

But no Catholic must
enter this cemetery.

Chief, Mr. Mayor, how are you?

Gora, what's happening again?

I don't know where the tomb is.

Mor and the others
refuse to tell me.

Ismail knows where it is.

-Yes, I know where it is.
-Ah! Great!

Now tell me what you need.

I saw the Christians with shovels.

Bring me a shovel.
I'll open the tomb myself.

Father, here's the tomb!

Go find me some shovels quickly!

Biram, tell the women to
give me some loincloths.

-Veronique,
-Eldest of the elders.

Give him four loincloths.

Nogoy Marie,
my sincerest condolences, mother.

We share the same pain, Imam.

Samba, Mor Tall, Meu Ndiaye,
Mor Khary, come!

Stop it!

Less than a week ago,

this man was alive
like you and me.

Dig!

My God!

Mor Ciss, Baye Aly, come!

Deputy, Chief, Gora, come see!

Baye Aly, Mor Ciss,
Chief, Deputy, Gora,

look! The body is still intact.

The real thing.

That's not Meyssa Ciss.

Because of you, the
Catholics and Muslims

were going to kill each other
all over Senegal.

Luckily Baye Aly had me come,

I arranged everything.

We're going back to the village

and wait for the food aid
that I found for you.

There's sugar, milk,

oil and rice!

It's all over now.

We've recovered your
father's body.

All's well that ends well.

You're Senegalese now?

Ah, I've always been Senegalese.

Alright then, goodbye.
And good luck!

Gor Mag, bring your coffin.

No! Anything but this crate!

Actually,
give me your loincloths.

Lift!

Your behavior honors all men.

Eldest,

when the vulture eats
your enemy's body,

tell it that it's eating you.
Hunt it.

Hey! Hey kids!

Father, talk to the kids.

The Deputy Amadou Fall sent
this to the peasants.

Etienne,

stop this wastefulness.

Food is sacred.
What you're doing is sinful!

Father, we cannot live
and grow by begging.

Nogoy Marie,
look at what the kids are doing.

They want to drive the hearse
over the food. It's sacrilege!

Eldest,

The sacrilege is not what
the children are doing.

The sacrilege, you didn't say,

is to have concluded,

sided on a thing with someone
who no longer exists,

only to go back on your word.
That is the blaspheme.

As for us,

we mute people,
without any dignity,

we dance in front of this aid.

What humiliation!

When will we realize

that a family cannot be built

cannot solidify, cannot take root,

in perpetual begging?

And this donation scene

has repeated itself for 30
years here and elsewhere.

This frequently-distributed aid

is killing us.

It's killing

every vague attempt at pride
and dignity in us.

What humiliation!