The Wagoner (Borom sarret)

The Wagoner

A film by OUSMANE SEMBENE

With Ly ABDOULAYE The Wagoner

ALBOURAH The Horse

The film's director thanks the Ministry of Information

and public authorities for their cooperation.

I implore Allah, the merciful, to protect myself and my family.

May he protect me from the law and the infidels. Amen.

Amen!

Take this, and may God be with you! And to think we have nothing to eat.

Thank you for your blessing!

Poor Fatou woke up early today!

I wonder, when is she going to pay me?

Things are not going well for her, too.

Let's go, Albourah!

There's that wretched Mamadou. I pick him up every morning.

I'm not going to stop!

If I were him, I would stay home.

He's been out of work for six months,

but he still keeps getting up early.

What did I tell you? Nothing but a handshake.

How will I feed my horse and my family?

I can only rely on God's mercy.

By the grace of God! By the grace of God!

Have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!

Why respond to him? There are so many beggars...

They're like flies!

Wagoner, get up! I have a job on 32nd Street.

Yes, boss!

On the right!

Wagoner, stop!

Take my wife to the hospital, immediately!

Yes, boss! Albourah!

That wheel again!

How am I going to fix it?

It still squeaks!

And this woman, with her head on my shoulder?

Can't she rest it somewhere else,

like on her husband's shoulder?

Modern women! I'll never understand them!

Thank God, we've arrived!

MANDEL MATERNITY

I won't get home for lunch.

I'm going to rest a little.

Mustn't waste such a nice morning!

And besides, Fatou gave me some kola nuts.

That's enough for my lunch.

What will they eat at home?

Who knows?

Who sings the praises of my ancestors?

Those brave warriors from the past!

The same blood runs in my veins.

Just because this new life has me working like a slave

doesn't mean I'm any less noble

than my ancestors.

Salam alaikum, brother.

Will you take me to the cemetery?

If you pay... - Yes.

- Brother, your certificate is missing. - I'm a foreigner here.

Wagoner, stay out!

Go get the right certificate.

God knows that I am a believer!

But what about my own child?

The other one, I didn't want to leave him and he too

I didn't want to leave him back there.

But what if I'd stayed? I gave everything to the griot.

I'm going to relieve myself.

- Peace be with you. - And with you.

Peace only!