Karmen Gei

Distributed by California Newsreel, Order Dept., PO Box 2284, South Burlington, VT 05407; 877-811-7495 (toll free)Produced by Telefilm Canada, Eurimide Productions, and numerous othersDirected by Joseph Gai Ramaka2001, VHS, color, 82 min. This is a unique and powerful adaptation of the traditional Carmen story first published by Prosper Merimee, and better known in George Bizet's celebrated opera of the late nineteenth century. This version is the first African Carmen, and arguably the first African filmed "musical." Bizet's score and staging of the opera is replaced with indigenous Senegalese music and choreography. While maintaining the traditional Carmen concepts of her infinite desire for freedom from the laws, conventions, and human limitations which constrain her freedom, the director has made a bold move in the storyline by making Karmen bisexual. While I recommend this video, the reservations lie in the fact that there is some nudity and sexually-suggestive scenes in this video that require prescreening before showing to younger audiences. The video begins with Karmen in prison, dancing for the female warden, who is strongly attracted to her. Karmen establishes a lesbian relationship with the female warden, allowing her to escape from prison. Once on the outside, Karmen wrecks the marriage and career of a local police corporal by making him her lover and co-conspirator in a smuggling ring. In the meantime, the female warden kills herself by drowning when she finds that she cannot live without Karmen. Her funeral finds Karmen pondering her life and effect on others, but which engender no real changes in her lifestyle. Karmen abandons her male lover, who then stabs and kills her in a jealous rage. There is a strong dance element throughout, both by Karmen and by others who are associated with her, especially other women in the prison. There is also a wonderful African jazz score that accompanies the storyline throughout. The Senegalese actress who plays Karmen has a dynamic stage presence, both in her acting and dancing ability, as well as in her tall and attractive figure. The fact that the dialogue is in French and Wolof throughout does not detract from the power of the film, given that English subtitles are provided. A wonderfully powerful and vivid adaptation of the Carmen story from the perspective of the African ethnic artistic community.