Xala

Xala (1974)

Genres - Drama  |   Sub-Genres - Satire, Black Comedy, Sex Comedy  |   Release Date - Oct 1, 1975 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 123 min.  |   Countries - Senegal  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Impotence (Xala) is a Sengalese social comedy, filmed in the Wolof language. A rich, corrupt business executive marries for the third time for the express purpose of getting his name in the papers. After a disappointing wedding night, the businessman discovers that he's impotent. As he goes through a series of "cures" (including several tinged with witchcraft), his prestige in the communities dwindles along with his sense of manhood. Through Xala, director Ousmane Sembene attacks African neo-colonialism on an allegorical level.

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Keywords

corruption, cure, executive, impotence [lack of power], newlywed, sex, suffering, wealth, marriage, witchcraft