HYENAS/HYÈNES (1992, Senegal, 113 min.), directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty; screenplay by Mambéty from the play The Visit of the Old Woman by Frederich Dürrenmatt; cinematography by Matthias Kälin; music by Wasis Diop; with Mansour Diouf (Dramen Drameh), Ann Diakhaté (Linguère Ramatou), Mamadou Gueye (Le Maire), Djibril Diop Mambéty (Gaana, the Judge), Omar Ba/Baye Peul (Mayor's Assistant), Issa Ranagelissa Samb (Teacher), Fély Gueye (Madame Drameh). In Wolof with English subtitles.

Please jot down answers to all the questions, and respond in depth to three.

1. Discuss the meaning of the title. Based on the handouts, and your own observation, what is the significance of the hyena for Mambéty? Why did he choose it as the title of this film?

2. This is again a disruption-of-the-status-quo drama. What was the status quo before the arrival (out of the past) of Ramatou? Describe life in the village of Colobane before word comes of her return.

3. How would you characterize the relationship between Dramen Drameh and his wife? What kind of life have they built together?

4. Discuss the reaction of the people of Colobane to Ramatou's offer. How does their reaction change over time?

5. Discuss Ramatou, both in terms of her appearance and her character. How do you feel about her.

6. What do you think of her entourage? Why do you think she has an Asian assistant?

7. Would you say that Dramen develops as a character over the course of the film? Discuss him.

8. What are the different animals that we see or hear about in the film? What role do they play?

9. You'll notice the occasional appearance of a hunter at various points in the film. Why is he in this film? What is his significance?

10. Discuss the scene in the church at Colobane. We see a scene from what appears to be a documentary on famine on television. What's going on there?

11. The afore-mentioned scene is one example of a number of elements in the film that appear to be deliberately artificial, strange, unrealistic. What are some of the others, and why do you think Mambéty chose to subvert documentary realism in this way?

12. Towards the end of the film, Dramen goes for a drive in a car. What would you say is the point of that scene?

13. Describe the "trial" scene. What is Mambéty saying in this scene? What is the point of the cut-aways to the judge (himself) and Ramatou?

14. At the very end of the film we see the town of Colobane being swallowed up in modernity, in a scene that makes me think of Zan Boko. What is the point of this final scene?

15. We hear several different kinds of music in this film, including a griotte praise song, a final Afro-Pop song, and others. What do you notice about the music, and about the lyrics when they are translated?

16. So what is Mambéty trying to tell African audiences, as well as audiences everywhere, by means of this fantasy-parable? What do you think of his message?

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