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"One of the greatest of all African films." – Chicago Reader
Dakar, Senegal, 1973: tired of their restrictive surroundings, a young man and woman dream of travelling to Paris. In order to raise money, they discuss various swindles and hit upon the right one, all the while vividly fantasising about how their life abroad – and triumphant return – will be.
A landmark in African cinema, Djibril Diop Mambéty's Touki Bouki (literally, "The Journey of the Hyena") is a colourful, kinetic portrayal of Senegalese culture and universal longing.
Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1973 Moscow International Film Festival.
"Both a document of its time and place and a poetic evocation of the fervent desire to escape one's surroundings." – QNetwork
Screens with A Thousand Suns, an award-winning sequel of sorts, shot by Mambéty's niece, Mati Diop (Snow Canon, MIFF 2012), who returned to Senegal 40 years after the release of Touki Bouki to find the actor who rode that film's iconic horned motorcycle.
Please note: Touki Bouki contains scenes of animal cruelty that may offend some viewers.