Xalé

In Moussa Absa Senes's third film in the trilogy about women in Senegal, we follow the twins Awa and Adama who live on the outskirts of Dakar.

Awa and Adama are a 15-year-old twin pair living in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Dakar. Awa is smart, excels in school, and has promising prospects for the future. After their grandmother's passing, they continue to reside with their uncle Atoumane, who is supposed to marry their cousin, Fatou. Fatou has no interest in her uncle, and a chain of events is instigated leading to an assault on Awa. The tragic story is conveyed in an intense manner by director Moussa Absa Sene, in what is described as the third film in his trilogy about women in his homeland of Senegal – all of which pay tribute to the daily struggle that many Senegalese women face.

Director

Moussa Sene Absa (b. 1958) is a Senegalese filmmaker born in the suburb of Tableau Ferraille outside Dakar. He began his career as an actor before transitioning to writing and directing his own theatrical productions. His first film, The Price of Lies (1988), marked the beginning of his film career, and his next feature film, Ça Twiste À Poponguine (1994), won several awards. His films are considered among the most significant in Senegalese cinema, and among his most renowned works are Tableau Ferraille (1995) and Madame Brouette (2002). Xalé (2022) is his latest feature film.

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