Ady’s father is troubled by his 13-year-old son’s behavior in France and decides to send him to where he grew up in Burkina Faso. The young teen is initially excited about the trip, filled with idealism about returning to the African continent. When Ady arrives in Gaoua, his family’s remote rural village, he must adjust to a new culture, the lack of “first world” comforts, and the different expectations of his West African family. The boy soon discovers he’s been sent to work for his Uncle Amadou and must repay his father back in France.
Several rites of passage include a long walk out of the village to meet Ady’s grandmother, who provides sorely needed wisdom and a sense of belonging to carry into his future. Wallay is a beautifully shot, documentary style coming-of-age story exploring mixed cultural identity and self-discovery, filmed almost entirely in Burkina Faso.
Recommended for ages 11+
Born in 1970 in Stockholm, Sweden, Bernie Goldblat has been doing video productions centered around West Africa since 1999. In 2000, he founded the film and digital media organization Cinomade and in 2006, founded his own production company, Les films du Djabadjah.