The Pirogue

La Pirogue is a 2012 Senegalese drama film directed by Moussa Touré. The film tells the story of a group of Senegalese fishermen who embark on a dangerous journey across the Atlantic in a small fishing boat, or "pirogue," in search of a better life in Europe.

The film opens with a group of fishermen in the coastal town of Dakar struggling to make ends meet. Their catch is meager, and they are barely able to support their families. One day, a local fisherman named Baye convinces his friend, the experienced fisherman Lansana, to captain a pirogue on a dangerous journey to Spain. Lansana is initially hesitant, but the promise of a better life for his family convinces him to take on the challenge.

The group of fishermen who join the journey are a diverse mix of characters, each with their own reasons for leaving Senegal. Among them are a young man named Kaba, who dreams of becoming a soccer player in Europe, and a married couple, Moussa and Nafy, who hope to build a better life for their children.

The journey across the Atlantic is long and perilous, and the fishermen are forced to endure hunger, thirst, and extreme weather conditions. They are also plagued by uncertainty and doubt, as they wonder whether they will ever make it to Europe alive.

As the journey progresses, tensions rise among the fishermen. Some of them begin to lose hope, while others become increasingly desperate. One of the fishermen, a man named Samba, becomes ill and must be thrown overboard to avoid infecting the others.

Despite the challenges they face, the fishermen continue on their journey, driven by the hope of a better life. Eventually, they spot the lights of a European city in the distance, and their spirits are lifted. However, when they finally reach land, they are confronted with the harsh realities of Europe's immigration policies. They are detained and placed in a refugee camp, where they are forced to wait indefinitely for their fate to be decided.

La Pirogue is a powerful and poignant film that explores the human cost of migration. It is a story of courage, perseverance, and the struggle for a better life, told through the eyes of a group of ordinary men who risk everything to pursue their dreams. The film is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable adversity.

• Souleymane Seye Ndiaye as Baye Laye
• Malaminé 'Yalenguen' Dramé as Abou
• Mame Astou Diallo as Nafy
• Laïty Fall as Lansana
• Balla Diarra as Samba
• Saikou Lo as Yaya
• Salif 'Jean' Diallo as Barry
• Babacar Oualy as Kaba
• Ngalgou Diop as Aziz
• Limamou Ndiaye as Richard
• Diode Ndiaye as Kiné
• Mohamed Fall as Mor
• Bassirou Diakhate as Bourbi
• Moctar Diop as Ousmane
• Alioune Ndiaye as Bouba

The screenplay was written by Eric Névé. It was shot on location in Dakar, Senegal, and in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Mauritania. The cast includes several professional actors, as well as non-professional actors who were recruited from the local Senegalese communities. The film was produced by Les Films du Crocodile, Studio 37, France 3 Cinéma, and Arte France Cinéma, with the support of the French National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) with a budget of approximately €3.6 million. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012 and was subsequently released in France and other countries. It was well-received by critics and audiences, and it won several awards at international film festivals.

- Audience Award, Narrative Feature Film, Carthage Film Festival (2012)

- Tanit d'Or, Narrative Feature Film, Carthage Film Festival (2012)

- ARRI Award, Best International Film, Munich Film Festival (2012)

- Global Images Award, Global Images, Cyprus Film Days international Festival (2013)

- Lumiere Award, Best French-Language Film, Lumiere Awards,France (2013)

• Arte France Cinéma (co-production)
• Astou Films (co-production)
• Appaloosa Films (co-production)
• Royal Pony Films (co-production)
• Studio 37 (co-production)
• LCS (co-production)

Moussa Touré is a renowned Senegalese filmmaker, born on November 8, 1958, in Dakar, Senegal. He is known for his contributions to African cinema, particularly for his work in exploring the themes of identity, social justice, and cultural heritage.

Touré started his career as a journalist and a photographer before moving to France to study film at the École Nationale Supérieure Louis Lumière. He made his directorial debut in 1991 with the film "Toubab Bi," which won several awards at international film festivals.

Touré continued to gain critical acclaim with his subsequent films, including "TGV" (1998), "La Pirogue" (2012), and "The Great Green Wall" (2019). His films have been screened at numerous international film festivals and have won several awards, including the prestigious Étalon de Yennenga award at FESPACO, the largest African film festival.

In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Touré is also a co-founder of the Guild of African Filmmakers and has been instrumental in promoting African cinema globally. He has also served on the jury of several international film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.

Today, Moussa Touré is considered one of the most important filmmakers from Africa, and his work has inspired and influenced a generation of African filmmakers.

https://cineuropa.org/en/film/213477/

• The Pirogue at IMDb
• https://cineuropa.org/en/film/213477/