Binta and the Great Idea

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"Binta and the Great Idea" is a Spanish short film, running only a half hour, with dialogue in Dioula and French, that received an Oscar nomination in 2007. [1]. The film stars Zeynabou Diallo as Binta, a young African girl who serves as the narrator. She tells of her father, played by Agnile Sambou and his 'great idea'. Binta's father is a small, local fisherman in a peaceful village in [Senegal]] whose friend has recentley visited Europe and tells him about what fishing is like in the Europe where they can catch thosands of fish with bigger boats equipped with sonar. His friend encourages Binta's father approach to the government and request a permit for a bigger boat. Binta's father also hears from his friend about how once he attains wealth he should get a permit for a weapon so he can defend his wealth. The film shows Binta's father as he makes his way up through the ranks of government, sharing his great idea with various officials. The film then switches to the struggle between Soda, Binta's cousin who desperateley wants to go to school, and her father, a village elder who believes African girls should not attend school. The village school children put on a play, trying to convince Soda's father to let her daughter attend school. In the end, he is convinced. Finally, when Binta's father meets with the provincial leader we find out what his great idea was. He wants to adopt a European child in order to teach him a simpler and better life. This film is unusual in the way it shows the positive parts of Africa where peace and simplicity prosper.