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Xala

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Xala (, Wolof for "temporary sexual impotence") is a 1975 Senegalese satirical comedy film written and directed by Ousmane Sembène, an adaptation of Sembène's 1973 novel of the same name. It stars Thierno Leye, Seune Samb, Douta Seck, Younousse Sèye, Fatim Diagne, and Myriam Niang.

Film · TMDB

6.9

A rich businessman in Senegal is cursed with crippling erectile dysfunction upon the day of his marriage to his third wife; the only cure is brutal public humiliation.

Released: 1975-10-01121 minDir: Ousmane SembèneComedy

Cast

  • Thierno Leye as Hadji Aboucader Beye
  • Myriam Niang as Rama (as Miriam Niang)
  • Seune Samb as Adja Assatu, Beye's wife
  • Fatim Diagne as Saleslady / Secretary
  • Younousse Sèye as Aram, Second Wife
  • Mustapha Ture as The Client

Themes

  • impotence
  • polygamy
  • senegal
  • curse
  • wedding
  • political satire
  • public humiliation
  • political corruption
  • karma

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Ratings

IMDb

6.7/10

2,189 votes

Year
1975
Runtime
123 min
Genres
Comedy, Drama

via IMDb

Key facts

Film.name
Xala
Film.image
XalaDVD.jpg
Film.caption
DVD cover
Film.director
Ousmane Sembène
Film.based_on
Xala by Ousmane Sembène
Film.producer
Filmi Domireve SNC
Film.screenplay
Ousmane Sembène
Film.starring
Thierno LeyeSeune SambDouta SeckYounousse SèyeFatim DiagneMyriam Niang
Film.music
Samba Diabara Samb
Film.cinematography
Georges Caristan Orlando L. López Seydina D. Saye Farba Seck
Film.editing
Florence Eymon
Film.studio
Films DomireewSociété Nationale Cinématographique
Film.distributor
New Yorker Films (USA)
Film.runtime
121 minutes
Film.country
Senegal
Film.language
FrenchWolof

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Duration
90
FilmAffinity ID
195087
Show 2 more facts
title
Xala
publication date
1975-00-00
Sources (8)

via Wikidata · CC0

~6 min read

Article

10 sections
Contents
  • Plot
  • Characters
  • Release
  • Reception
  • Critical reception
  • Criticism
  • Awards
  • See also
  • References
  • External links

Xala (, Wolof for "temporary sexual impotence") is a 1975 Senegalese satirical comedy film written and directed by Ousmane Sembène, an adaptation of Sembène's 1973 novel of the same name. It stars Thierno Leye, Seune Samb, Douta Seck, Younousse Sèye, Fatim Diagne, and Myriam Niang.

The plot depicts El Hadji, a rich businessman in Senegal, who is cursed with crippling erectile dysfunction upon the day of his marriage to his third wife; that could only be cured by him stripping naked before the lowly of the society and have them spit on him. The film satirizes the corruption in African post-independence governments; El Hadji's impotence symbolizes the failure of such governments to be useful at all.

Gallery (5)

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