In 1999 two dead school boys were found in the undercarriage compartment of a trans-Atlantic jetliner that had landed from Guinea, Africa in Brussels, Belgium. With a tear-jerking, heartrending note to Western leaders, courteously asking them to direct the world's attention to Africa, this film based on actual events, recounts the story that lead to that fateful day in history.
Fofana, Yaguine (Mamoudou Camara) and Fode (Sekou Kouyate) are best-friends living in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, on Africa's west coast. They, like many youngsters become increasingly disheartened during their long summer holiday by the problems facing millions of African children. Lured by the televised picture of Western prosperity, and the power that surrounds it, along with their increasing disappointment by the lack of opportunities on the streets of Conakry, they are drawn to Europe. Determined to assist their struggling families, the two stow away on a flight to Brussels.
This melancholy film, accompanied by the sweet sounds of Fode's kora, lends a human face to a real-life misfortune. As such, this film appropriately portrays the desperate and often fatal measures many seek to find their way out of poverty. |
