Hollywood Comes to the Bush

The newest big thing here the acquisition of a TV with accompanying DVD player. There is no electricity here people buy small generators to make them run. Usually they buy a combination package with bad Hollywood action movies starring Jean-Claude Van Damm or some other terrible action actor; corny Chinese films; Malian music videos; and poorly made W. African soaps. I’ve gone to watch at some people’s houses’, but since its often in Bambara or French I figure I can sit around not understanding whats going on any time I want so I don’t have to sit around a TV to do it.

The latest person here in village to buy one is the pharmacist at my clinic. He kept asking me to come over one night to watch one of his numerous American films, so with my friend and host mom in tow I finally went. Since I was kind of the guest of honor I got to pick out the movie. Among the numerous doubtful choices were also some more watchable films; of which I decided to choose the Pirates of the Caribbean (which, to be honest, I love. I’ve watched it a hundred times and could watch it a hundred times more). I also figured it was tame enough for the viewing audience. In the process of getting the TV set up and picking out the right movie we soon had a crowd of 30 people or more, mostly children, who were not going to pass up the chance to watch this awesome invention. Unfortunately, due to some sketchy Chinese titling (China wins again!) it turned out to be the third Pirates movie, not the first. Well, not to outline the plot here, but this movie is pretty confusing, even when you watch it in your own language and have seen the prequels. I saw it in theaters and came out seriously scratching my head. So one could only imagine what the poor Malians were feeling, especially when the concept of the ocean, pirates and colonial England is unknown to them. Fortunately half the children crashed halfway through the movie, right there on the ground where they had been sitting (which made it seem like some sort of small battlefield). Well, three hours and one large squid-man villain later, my friend summed up the evening like this: “You’re right, Americans are crazy.” Exactly what I’ve been saying all along.