Yoole (The Sacrifice)
by Moussa Sène Absa
Senegal, 2010
synopsis
In April 2006, a small boat was found drifting aimlessly along the eastern coast of Barbados. Local fishermen left the boat alone for many weeks, assuming it had something to do with drug smuggling. It later emerged that the boat contained the bodies of 11 Senegalese people who had set out to Europe four months earlier. In Senegal, it is not unusual for young people to embark in a rickety vessel in search of money and happiness in Europe or North America. Director Moussa Sene Absa is himself Senegalese, and was in Barbados when the boat was discovered. He returns to his homeland to explore the stories of the young men who risk the voyage. Surrounded by the slum dwellings and other dilapidated buildings in the ghetto, the young adults talk about poverty, hunger, politics and corruption, Western Union, and Western paradise. Archive footage of a party conference with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who represents the political elite, is interspersed with scenes featuring local songs, rap and poetry. Using a variety of rhythms and styles, Absa applies his own narrative method and succeeds in connecting individual stories to the sociopolitical situation. This yields a portrait of Senegalese youth and an impression of the consequences of the distance between themselves and the political elite.
– African Film Festival NY
about the director
Moussa Sène Absa (b. 1958, Senegal) is a celebrated filmmaker, screenwriter, painter, and author. He began his cinematic career as a screenwriter for Les Enfants de Dieu, and his directorial debut Le Prix du Mensonge (1988) earned him the Silver Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival. After starting out as an actor, Absa went on to direct a number of acclaimed short films, documentaries, and features.
His first feature Ken Bugul (1991) was followed by Ça Twiste à Popenguine (1992), which brought him international recognition. In 1996, he directed Tableau Ferraille, awarded Best Cinematography at FESPACO in 1997. This film marked the beginning of his trilogy on women, continued with Madame Brouette (2002), which received the Silver Bear at the Berlinale, and completed with Xalé (2022).
Despite being widely known internationally, Absa remains less celebrated in Senegal, although his television work, particularly the popular series Goorgoorlu (written by TT Fons and produced by RTS), reached a broad domestic audience. His later films Teranga Blues (2007) and Yoole (2013) were both selected for competition at FESPACO.
Often described as embodying the ideal of the “homo senegalensis” – an artist rooted in tradition yet open to global influence – Absa’s multifaceted work reflects a deep engagement with Senegalese society and culture.
