The following will be helpful as teachers prepare students to watch the Senegalese film "The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun." Remember, at this point, students are trying their hand at recognizing voice. To really evaluate their understanding, it is important to choose a film that is unfamiliar to them; for this, foreign films are most convenient…except when they aren't. J Depending on the resources that are available in your area, it obtaining this particular film may not be feasible. In that case, another film can be substituted, as long as it lacks the "familiarity" of contemporary, American film.
Film Synopsis
This film is ideal because at forty-five minutes, it can easily be show in one to two class periods. Sili, the main character, is an orphaned street girl who decides to sell "The Sun," the government's newspaper, in order to make ends meet. With this decision, Sili demonstrates her own determination and also opens herself up to the ridicule of the other newspaper boys who consider Sili to be an intruder on their territory. Ultimately, Sili gets the job and is able to celebrate this and other successes throughout the film.
Key Themes
True to the film's strongest theme (the question of equality among the sexes), Sili is initially met with suspicion when she first seeks a job. It is at this point that she utters what has been called the "key phrase" of the film:"What boys do girls can do, too."
Other themes include how one can overcome adversity (Sili doesn't let her handicap handicap her.), the affect of poverty on children, the value of education versus learning (book knowledge versus street knowledge), the presence of sun and its implications (the representation of joy in color and activities; remember also the title of the film and the newspaper that Sili sells), and the power of government to affect the people (Remember that "The Sun" is the government's paper.)
Background on Senegal
Senegal is a Francophone country located in West Africa. Dakar, a major area, is also the film's setting. Wolof, is a popular dialect, while French remains the official language. Senegal is made up of a variety of ethnic groups including the Wolofs, the Pulaar, and the Sereres. Islam is the predominant religion among these people who are mostly fishermen or farmers, with peanuts being its primary export.
The arts have flourished in Senegal for centuries including the ancient technique of sand painting and glass painting, a very specialized art that dates back to Senegal's Muslim heritage. A favorite Senegalese activity includes gathering around the town's griot (a combination storyteller and historian of sorts) for music and dancing. Contemporary dance companies are flourishing in Senegal which is home to the Kaay Fecc, an international festival of dance.
If you can, accessing the following site and sharing it with your students will provide some much-needed visual weight to their experience of Senegal. The photographs at the following site are breathtaking: http://www.africaguide.com/country/senegal/culture.htm