UN HOMME QUI CRIE (A SCREAMING MAN)

Chad, 2010, 92 minutes, Colour.
Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma.
Directed by Mahamat Saleh Haroun.

A film that begins in bright sunlight in a fashionable hotel swimming pool in Tchad, a father and son competing in holding their breath underwater. A film that ends in darkness with father and son at a river after experiencing the horror and wounds of civil war.

The central character is Adam, a former central African swimming champion and the first pool supervisor in Tchad. He is a man of bearing and dignity, well respected. However, with the activity of the rebels and cross-border incursions, sackings go on at the hotel and calm life deteriorates as controlling troops take to the streets, curfews are imposed and the local head collects money to help the war effort against the rebels – while many fathers volunteer their sons for active service.

This all takes its toll on Adam, his wife, his son who worked with him at the pool, and his pregnant girlfriend.

Well-crafted and generally accessible for a wide audience, the film leaves narrative holes for the audience (who may not be quick enough) to fill in and does not build up dramatically to the war tension in the city.

However, it is a moving story of contemporary African troubles – with no solution in sight.

1. A film industry in Chad? The almost singular contribution by Mahamat Saleh Haroun? Chad in the 20th and 21st centuries? In the context of Africa, unrest, rebellions, wars, the consequences for government and population, innocent people and deaths? The background for this story?

2. The Chad city, the hotel and its pool, the touch of luxury? The ordinary streets, homes, meals? The neighbourhoods? Sense of realism? The musical score – with the African tones?

3. Peace, people living their ordinary lives? The growing tension, the information from the television about the rebels, the government handling of situations? Introduction of road blocks, the curfew? The military presence? The refugees eventually pouring out of the city? The wounded and dead?

4. The film as a father and son story? The opening in the bright pool, jovial, father and son and the competition to hold their breaths? At work at the pool? At home, the lift on the mo-ped? The growing strain at work? Abdel and his being absent? His father’s concern? The change of job, Abdel retaining the job at the pool? The silence at home? Issues of responsibilities? Abdel and the girl, the father and his having to make a contribution to the war? The father letting Abdel go to war? His motivations, later telling the girlfriend? His going to rescue Abdel, Abdel’s wounds, the final ride, the river?

5. Abdel at twenty, at the pool, playful, good with people, the girlfriend, her pregnancy, his sense of responsibility, keeping his job? The silence at the meal at home, his mother’s being upset, yet offering the drink to his father? His going to fight, the tape he sent home, his horror of war? Wounded, wanting to go home, dying by the river, wanting to be in the river again?

6. Adam and his past, the champion swimmer in the 60s, his being the first pool attendant in Chad? At home with his wife, the meals? The interview, his being transferred to the security at the gate, the friend at the gate despising him? The uniform, snoozing at the gate, people going in and out? His watching Abdel?

7. The local chief, talk with Adam, wanting the money, the talk about sons going to war, his own son going?

8. The girl, her arrival, pregnant, her story, family, a singer and her singing the song, staying with the family, listening to the tape, upset that Adam had sent his son to war?

9. Mrs Wang, the hotel, downsizing, the staff not coming to work, the refugees on the street?

10. Adam and the moped, his encountering the chief disguised as a woman, trying to flee the city? Riding through the desert, coming to the camp, Abdel wounded, wanting to go home, his taking him to the river?

11. The visuals of the river, the dead Abdel floating down the river, the sadness of the ending?

12. Chad film-making and bringing to the world’s attention the troubles of the country via popular film?