by Hal Erickson
synopsis
This French 16-millimeter feature received its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Novice director Tam-Sir Doueb was assisted by veteran Jean Rouch, famed for such documentaries as Chronicle of a Summer and Jaguar. Subtitled bac ou mariage, the film is based on the popular Senegalese musical Tali Bu Mag. Unlike Rouch's other films, Boulevards D'Afrique has a plot to follow: the simplistic Tali Bu Mag storyline involving an unwanted arranged marriage. Even so, the director characteristically pays more attention to the customs, rituals and celebrations of his Senegalese cast than he does his source material.
