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Nice effects though.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The film Ça Twiste à Poponguine presents colonialism in a very different light than what would be expected. Not only does this film depict the identity confusion and impact of different cultures on the people of Senegal, but it does so while bringing them all together. In the film the importance of this "give and take" is even mentioned outright and continues to be a theme throughout it.We are shown everything we need to see through Bacc and the two rival gangs, the Ins and the Kings. The lives of these teen groups show the viewers the importance of collaboration as well as the destruction that could arise when everyone resists and hates one another. Without understanding, the people as well as their village could be destroyed.There is very strong emphasis on music in this film. Each of the gangs listens to and represents a different type than the other. The Ins listen to and dress in a way that reflects French pop music and influence while the Kings listen and show the viewers American pop music and influence. This reminds us that not only is there one culture being infused with their own, but many in different ways. After much turmoil, the rivalry is finally put to rest in the final scene. This scene shows a blending of all of the cultures, progression, and a humorous combination of the musical styles all within one musical act.Overall this film was very positive and informational. It showed a different side to colonialism than we see normally while still showing some of the negative affects it could potentially have (as seen through M. Benoit). While humorous at times it still manages to show viewers perspective and fact.

Na nga def, fellow movie goers! This means hello in Senegalese, which is where our movie, Ça Twiste à Popenguine, takes place. However, in the film, young Senegalese students would be lightly punished for speaking in their mother tongue of Wolof, in their French classroom. So for their sake, I say bonjour to you now!The title itself, Ça Twiste à Popenguine, means Rocking Popenguine. I believe that this is a very suitable title, for the entire movie moves to the beat of rock and roll. With American, French, and Senegalese music carrying on in the background, the movie accurately shows us the mixing of cultures. For some, this mixture is negative and often rejected, but for the others, it's embraced as the future of generations to come. You'll quickly adore the main character is a Senegalese boy named Bacc, played by Ismael Thiam. He is a funny little guy alright, running around, doing business with his Wolof brothers and sisters. Bacc has no mother or father in the movie. While his father is out of the picture and does not matter, it is often said that his mother is "lost in the city." By the end of the movie, it becomes much clearer what is meant by this. As an orphan, Bacc is the son of all the Wolof people: they all take him in and care for him. At least his Grandmother is around, she is very encouraging of Bacc's education, and dreams of the day when his pitchoss will be in all books.Bacc is more of a member of Les Inseparables, or the In's for short. This Wolof click is comprised of three teenage boys and two teenage girls, who love French music. The children each have two names: one is their favorite French pop singer's name and the other is their real given name, which is either French or Arabic. The Ins' rival are the Kings, a group of teenage Wolof boys who are obsessed with American rock music. It was fascinating how the director, Moussa Sene Absa, contrasted the music: playing the music the group liked in the background as they appeared on screen. I believe more Senegalese music played when the focus was on Bacc by himself, or other characters, like Monsieur Benoit. The music was only one aspect in which we witness cultures actively mixing.The aforementioned character Monsieur Benoit, played by Jean-François Balmer, is the children's teacher at the French School. At school, the children must only speak in French, any other language, especially Wolof, is prohibited. The children liked the French school better than the Koranic school because they actually fed them good. Furthermore, to learn the French language is considered to be the only way to become rich and successful. It is never said, but I believe Bacc's mother found a successful job in Paris after completing her French education, and is now lost in the city for it's opportunity. Monsieur Benoit, himself, shows us the inner battle one has with modernity. He doesn't know where he feels more alien: in Popenguine or his home in France. Pay special attention to Benoit when he's drunk as opposed to when he's sober. As a drunk man, he raves about how France colonized Africa, giving it a clean slate. Then when he argues with the traditional Muslim Jabeel, as a sober man, he says "the children are our future" and that "cultures should give and take from each other to grow." Excellent way to show your point, Absa: modernity is the children's future and French is their future; a way of expansion.Speaking of modernity, I really loved the scene when Haj Gora buys a television for his wife. All of the village's children came to watch the new, amazing, colorful gift. They happily absorbed the classical Greek play Sophocles in French: ironic. What was also ironic about this scene was that Absa placed the T.V. in the direction of Mecca, so the Muslim community prayed towards it. Interestingly, Absa did not portray any conflict between the religions of Christian and Muslim. He focused more so on the impact of modernity: how the older and traditional members were more culture-shocked and the children easily adjusted to learning French for a greater purpose and opportunity. I usually don't comment on the ending of a film, in fear of ruining it for you. Yet, I must remark that the ending scene is a very interesting sight. Absa portrays post-modernity and a successful mixing of culture at a village party. I chuckled at the white man singing Chuck Barry with the black back-up band. I thought it was a fun and unique celebration with everyone partying together. I really think you'll find it fascinating how natural Absa makes this film. You'll feel like you're in a day in the life of the Wolof people, enjoying the sun and listening to music. With the absence of a script, Absa created a film with a more documentary feel, but you feel like you're in it. It's up to you, though, whether you are in with the Kings or the Ins. Enjoy the rock and roll of cultures blending, my friends!

I want to start this review by saying that this movie is both entertaining and educational. It allows you a peek into the life of both the Africans and the French during colonization. This unique film exposes you to the real life problems that are faced not only with the French trying to colonize Africa but the troubles that arise within an African tribe itself. That being said I give this film a 7 out of 10. The only reason it was not higher is due to the nature that the plot got confusing and jumbled at points, but otherwise a brilliant movie that touches on all of your emotions.Ca Twiste a Popenguine (Rocking Popenguine) takes place in 1960's Africa following main character Bacc and his fellow tribe mates during French colonization. Bacc does not have any biological parents within the tribe due to the fact they left to go to Paris and as the film states "got lost in the streets". This "got lost in the streets" metaphorically speaking insures the viewer that Bacc's parents accepted the French way of life and never returned to their home life in Africa leaving Bacc in the care of the whole entire tribe. This sets up a conflict between Bacc and the rest of the tribe. The tribe, besides a select few, believe that Bacc will become just like his parents and therefore treat him as a outcast of the tribe. This could symbolize the difference between tradition and modernity in Africa during colonization. Bacc and his parents represent the French way of life; good education (Bacc is brilliant), money, business skills, and the desire to be better than normal (Bacc wants to be in the "Pitchoss" or movies). Whereas the tribe represents the desire to maintain tradition and not accept modernity. Which is portrayed in the scene of the movie where the kids of the gang, The Inseparables, are given a swatting and yelled at for their behavior in throwing a surprise party involving American and French music which allowed close slow dancing. Mr. Benoit, the tribes only Frenchman and teacher, tries to step in and tell Jabeel, the tribes religious figure, that these kids do not deserve that type of punishment for the crime they supposedly committed for they are the future of the tribe. This continues with the theme of modernity versus tradition. While this movie generally follows Bacc and his mishaps and learnings it also follows the struggles of two gangs within the tribe. The Inseparables and The Kings. The Inseparables are a gang of teens that accept and embrace the French way of life. Whereas the The Kings represent the desire to live the American life. Throughout the whole film it is a constant struggle between the two to become the most popular and obtain the loyalty of the only two teen girls in Popenguine, Sylvie and Shelia. The Inseparables represent the traditional lifestyle they were raised by due to the fact of French colonization, while The Kings represent "change" or modernity (this is seen through their desire to have the newest records, teppaz, and TV). This power struggle causes some bumps in the road for both gangs mainly due to the fact that Bacc plays both sides never claiming or being claimed be either gang. The two gangs are ultimately brought together at the end of the movie with a clever plan by the producer of the film. The final scene of the movie shows the The Inseparables and the Kings together at a party with no negative feelings. The common ground that rings them together is ironic in itself, a Persian musician singing American Rock & Roll in the French language. Metaphorically speaking the tribe is brought together through a mesh of modernity and tradition, which is also ironic in nature. Mainly because the clash of modernity versus tradition is what ultimately caused all of the tribes struggles in the first place. Christianity and Islam meshed together, French and Wolof meshed together, Modernity versus Tradition meshed together, ultimately this movies shows Africa as "The Real Melting Pot".

I really enjoyed the movie Ca Twiste a Popenguine.Ca Twiste a Popenguine was written and directed by Moussa Sene Absa in 1994. The movie focused around two groups of people. The kings and the ins. It also focused around their teacher in the little village of Popenguine in Africa. The film was actually shot on location and the actors are the real people who live there. The costumes, setting, lighting, makeup, and actors were all very good. The only things that weren't very good were the actors and the plot could be confusing at times. The clothing was good because the movie was supposed to be set around the 1960's era. Some of the costumes were traditional because of the natives of Popenguine. The kids in the "in crowd" wore school uniforms like they would in real life. When they weren't wearing their uniforms they wore regular 1960's era clothing. The kings wore 1960's clothing and colorful hats. I thought the traditional costumes that some of the women wore were very nice. The setting was a good setting for the movie because the movie took place in a little town in Popenguine during the 1960's. A lot of the plot has to do with that time era of course. The town was very traditional and some of the kids were trying to break free of that tradition. The lighting always seemed natural. Many of the scenes took place outside. The scenes that took place inside were usually a little darker because the insides of the buildings in reality are dark since most people in the tiny traditional building don't have electricity. However, there is one scene that starts out in the day time and then all of a sudden the scene goes to night time. It really didn't make since. There was only one professional actor in the scene and you could tell. The French teacher was the only professional actor. The others were kids and adults who actually live in the village. They weren't very good at acting, and they sometimes came off as a little cheesy to me. There were some scenes that didn't make since to me which made the plot a little confusing. I thought the plot all together was good. However, there was a scene where a little boy and girl were standing up against a tree screaming. The little boy said we just made love and the girl ran away. I didn't see where that fit in the plot. There was another scene where a few of the boys almost down. When you watch the movie once again the scene didn't make since. All together I really like the movie. Sure, there were a few things I didn't really get or like, but altogether it was a fun movie to watch. I would defiantly recommend it to anyone and I would love to watch more movies like this.