De Broca's movies are always very rhythmic, full of fantasy, adventure and humor. Just great fun, and you should never miss the occasion to enjoy one his works! Just to name a few you should not miss : "That man from Rio", "Cartouche", "Chinese adventures in China", "The man from Acapulco" without forgeting the excellent "The devil by the tail". The African is no exception and offers great entertainment. Philippe Noiret is very convincing in his role as a grumpy and aging freedom-loving adventurer. Catherine Deneuve was a less good cast in my opinion, but overall the couple held out. The shots of the African savannah and its herds of elephants filmed from the air are absolutely stunning. The film is also an indictment for the protection of the environment and animals at a time when the theme was not as mainstream as today. The condemnation of greedy poachers is final and the love of nature and wilderness is evident in every plan. A beautiful film that deserves to be seen in its restored version.
Review of L'africain
