Jaguar
dir. Jean Rouch · 1967
Feature
Immigrant Experience
Mood
Adventurous / Contemplative
Look
raw, documentary-style realism with natural landscapes
Structure
episodic journey with character vignettes
Plot
Jaguar, a kind of road movie on foot, tells of the journey of three friends, Damouré, Lam and Illo, on their way to the Gold Coast where they hope to make a fortune in order to return to their village in a few months.
Why watch
Three friends set out on foot towards the Gold Coast, driven by dreams of wealth and the hope of returning to their village transformed. As they traverse the landscape, their conversations reveal the complexities of ambition, friendship, and the stark contrasts between their rural roots and the urban allure they seek.
Cultural context
post-colonial West Africaeconomic aspirations in rural communitiesfriendship dynamics in travel