BBC World Service Launch BBC Media Player
  • Help
  • Text only

Radio home
World Service
Programmes
Radio Schedules
Languages
Learning English
 
World News
 
Africa
 
Americas
 
Asia-Pacific
 
Europe
 
Middle East
 
South Asia
 
UK
 
Business
 
Health
 
Science/Nature
 
Technology
 
Entertainment
 
Have Your Say
 
Country Profiles
 
In Depth
 
---------------
 
RELATED SITES
 
WEATHER
 
SPORT
 
 
Fespaco 2005 - About The Films
 
Latest
news
About the
films
Who's who
at Fespaco
About
Fespaco
Special
Features
In Pictures
Audio
FESPACO INDEX
Tasuma le Feu
Tasuma le Feu
On Monday morning, Sogo Sanon also known as "Tasuma - the fire", a proud retired West African who fought with the French army in Indo-China and Algeria, puts on his medals and his uniform and bikes to Bobo-Dioulasso to get his long-overdue pension.

Sogo has been patiently waiting for his pension from the French government. But each time he makes the arduous trip to town, bumping his bicycle along dirt roads, he is met with blank stares at the government offices. No, his name is not on the list today -maybe, tomorrow. This time, he is so certain that he will receive money that he buys his village a grain mill on credit. It's a glorious day for Sogo, the women are happy, the local songstress sings his praise and the village chief offers him his daughter's hand in marriage.

The following day, he returns to Bobo, but there is still no pension. Meanwhile, the merchant who sold him the mill demands his money. On Friday, Sogo gets angry. He goes back to Bobo, this time with a shotgun. He rushes to the province administrator's office, takes him hostage and dictates a letter to General de Gaulle, who is long dead. In this humorous and touching film, Kollo Daniel reminds us that until decolonisation, thousands of African soldiers served in the French army. They often play important roles in their villages where their meagre pensions must go a long way.
 
NORTH AFRICA FILMS

EAST & CENTRAL AFRICA FILMS

WEST AFRICA FILMS

SOUTHERN AFRICA FILMS

SERVICES About Us | FAQs | Feedback | Daily Email | Desktop tools | Mobile | Podcasting | Email Network
 
Copyright BBC
 
^^ Back to top
 
  BBC News >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | Learning English >>
BBC Monitoring >> | BBC World Service Trust >>
  Help | Site Map | Privacy