Le Franc (1994)

Le Franc is a 1994 Senegalese short comedy film, directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty.

Le Franc is about Marigo, a penniless musician living in a shanty town, relentlessly harassed by his formidable landlady.

This film uses the French government's 50% devaluation of the West African CFA franc in 1994, and the resulting hardships as the basis for a whimsical commentary on using the lottery for survival.

Le Franc was originally intended as the first film of a trilogy under the title, Tales of Ordinary People. However, Mambety’s untimely death in 1998 prevented the completion of the third film.

Synopsis

Marigo est musicien mais sa logeuse lui a confisqué son instrument, un congoma, car il n'a pas payé son loyer depuis trop longtemps. Heureux possesseur d'un billet de loterie, il décide de le mettre en sécurité et le cole sur sa porte, derrière le portrait d'un héros de son enfance, Yadikone. Le soir du tirage, le billet de Marigo sort gagnant. Il se voit déjà millionnaire et rêve à mille congomas, un orchestre, un avion particulier... La porte sur la tête, il traverse la ville pour toucher ses gains aux bureaux de La Lonase.

Acteurs