Moving West African drama premiers in Kigali

“Mokili”, a moving 2006 drama movie set in Burkina Faso and directed by prolific West African-based Swiss filmmaker Berni Goldblat and was screened at the Goethe-Institut in Kigali on Tuesday night.

Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Cinemagoers leave after the screening of the movie. The New Times / Patrick Buchana.

"Mokili”, a moving 2006 drama movie set in Burkina Faso and directed by prolific West African-based Swiss filmmaker Berni Goldblat and was screened at the Goethe-Institut in Kigali on Tuesday night. "It was an amazing movie and depicting real life situations in society,” observed Peter Nsengimana. "Although I didn’t love the ending, it was a funny film but with a tragic end.”"Watching the movie was on our agenda and now it’s fulfilled,” commented Vivianne Kamikazi. "The movie was very funny, and more so because it’s an African movie, showing what really happens among teenagers at school and after school.”Synopsis The tragic but humorous film chronicles a few crucial weeks in the lives of two adolescents in modern-day Burkina Faso. Papou and Goumbe are worlds apart, reacting in opposite ways to their approaching A-level examinations. The contrasting way they deal with family and peer relations as well as with the choices they opt for on drugs and sex, easy money, forced marriage and corruption, reveal the throes of life faced by young people everywhere particularly in the contemporary African society. Goumbe born was into a well-off family in Burkina Faso. The young protagonist graduates from school only with "gombo noire”, his father’s bribe to the school’s headmaster. An essentially weak character, he tries to impress seductive girls, follows the temptation of drugs, easy money and ultimately ruins his father’s professional career.Papou, on the other hand, struggles his way up and excels in his A-level exams. Still struck by his high school love life, he sees the love of his life through an escape from the man her money-minded parents forced her to marry and they begin a new life.Title: MokiliDirector: Berni GoldblatProducer: Les DjabadjahWriter: Moumouni SanouDuration: 1:23:00Genre: Drama