Movie-Database: Movies

Tasuma, Le Feu

Back to person







Credits

Name: Tasuma, Le Feu

Country: Burkina Faso, Frankreich

Year of publication: 2004

Format: 35 mm, DVD

Color: color

Language : OF m. franz. / engl./ span. UT

Duration: 85 Minuten

Direction: Sanou, Kollo Daniel

Camera: Kosal, Nara Keo

Editing: Davanture, Andrée

Sound: Hivernon, Claude

Actor: Bessani, Khalil Raoul; Yara, Aï Keïta; Henri, Serges; Ouédraogo, Noufou; Sanou, Safiatou; Sanou, Sonia Karen; Soré, Stanislas; Zerbo. Mamadou

Abstract

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. (BBC World Service on FESPACO 2005 - The films)