I've always liked movies talking about other movies, but I don't know much what to say about this one. In fact nothing concrete is said about the seriously-distressed film maker Carlo's plans for the Pygmies. One simply gets the impression he needs them for something he won't tell.
The movie is full of abrupt transitions from one scene to another and recounts the adventures or ...misadventures of two French film makers on their way to and into ...Cameroon with the aim of getting a group of Pygmies needed for the next movie of their boss. Yes to Cameroon because although the name of the country is never mentioned it is easy to recognize the active streets of Douala, one or two Cameroonian car number plates, well-known local dishes, and the use of local words like "Ntobassi"
Although the story quite perfectly and objectively criticizes the socio-economic and political situation of Black Africa in many aspects (infrastructure, neocolonialism, administrative malfunctioning,...) it still goes extremist in portraying some ills of our society; Minister's don't accompany soldiers on their patrols, candidates to presidential elections are not encountered with such ease in hotels, Ministers don't have this Savimbi-like look,...etc.
Nevertheless this movie successfully describes the popular opinions and encounters between the West and the parts of Africa. No matter how unqualified or irrelevant in his/her declarations any 'White man' will be courted because and so far as his pockets are full... On the other hand it shows the effect coming into close contact with Africans and their daily suffering has on Westerners ; as such our two friends are in agony as a child is hit by a car which goes off.
The Pygmies play a very significant role in this movie as the Frenchmen marvel at their natural way of living and mastery of the Equatorial Forest. Yet we are told that they belong to a local boss who evaluates the loss he'll incur in their absence since they serve during the harvest period. The Pygmies are in a sense used to portray the impact of the West on Africa as one can see in their 'Hum hum' (they do not understand what the Frenchman is saying but they answer 'Yes') a continuous 'Yes' to the West. Another touching scene is that during which they are dressed in clothes depriving them of their local garments.
It's quite noticing that globalization can sometimes have some beautiful illustrations ; French movie by a Rumanian-born Director, partly shot in Gabon and in Cameroon starring Frenchmen and half-Burundi Miss France.
