Somewhere Near Conakry

A decade after the end of the colonial era in French Guinea, revolution is brewing. We experience the drama as it unfolds, seen through the eyes of a few children.

We meet Jacques, a white French lad whose father has an important job, and his friend, Madiou, a smart black Guinea boy. The revolutionaries exert great pressure on blacks working for whites. Terrified villagers watch as 'counter-revolutionary' blacks are executed. Madiou, who attended a 'white' school, is prevented from continuing his studies at that school. Many whites are talking about moving back to France. How would this affect our two friends?

The effect of the end of colonial rule in African countries, on kids from both sides of the political, racial and social spectrum, has been presented in other films. The excellent 'Cartouches Gauloises' ('Summer of '62'), depicting the major political changes in Algeria comes to mind. In Guinea the divide in the lifestyles of the 'colonial' white French and more traditional indigenous black community is stark, more accentuated. And this is what makes 'Quelque part vers Conakry' different; the potential for conflict is so much greater.

I found the acting good, although not outstanding. The cinematography, however, is imaginative and a feast for the eye.

This film is definitely worth watching. I score it a good 7/10.