Faat Kine

Faat Kine the character is shown in the film centered around her as an immensely charismatic and independent character. Kine’s personality can be seen as a clear reflection of the social values that were changing in Senegal at the time. Kine both independently and with her friends makes fun of men in a playful manner and in some cases just downright scolding as Akudinobi points out in her book “Durable Dreams” Kine is not perfect heroine made to be digestible to western audiences but rather a character who shines with independence in the midst of her specific culture (Akudinobi, 2006,p.177). Another aspect of the film that showcases the change in social values present in Senegal and Africa at large is how Kine interacts with her family and vice versa. Kine’s brutal past of abuse is shown through her mothers stories filtered through the emotional tone of tough love, at a stark contrast to the loving yet intense relationship that Kine has with her mother Kine’s two children have a much more lenient and friendly relationship with their mother in which they bring up the discussion of finding her a partner, a discussion that is somewhat disturbing to kine’s mother. Although I would argue that the social divide between generations is the most significant societal tension shown in this film other schisms are very present. The conflict between religions seems to be at the very best broken down to petty interactions among people of different faiths as shown firstly by Kine’s children asking a christian man named Jean to pursue their mother, In response to their proposition Jean brings up his perceived incompatibility with Kine due to his faith and kicks Kine’s kids out of his office. However it is the difference in perception that comes with generations that is the central point by the end of the film. During a party Kine’s previous suitors (one of which being the father of Kine’s son) show up and instigate a conversation with Kine’s Children resulting in a exchange of calculated insults and points that sum up the sociopolitical setting of the movie. Kine’s son (Djib) is confronted with his father who tries to convince him to study elsewhere besides Africa to which Djib responds passionately that his goal is to change his country for the better, that means his allegiance is to his people and not to the countries previous colonizers. In the ending sequence Kine and Jean escape to a private room letting their attraction sown with tension loose. In one sense these scenes present a uplifting emotions while also displaying the profound changes being put into motion in Senegal and Africa as a whole.