For the people of the Sahara, owning a horse is a mark of status, a great pride. In villages of the dry savannah, children are taught to ride horses very young. They live a free and exciting cow boy life, watching after the family’s herd. This is the case of Hisseini, 11, who is soon to participate his first Grand Fantasia, a ritual horse race in which he will represent his village. But Hisseini has no one to train him.
At the cattle market, Hisseini meets Stephanie, a French woman who manages an equestrian club. He makes friend with her right-hand man Abakar. Abakar agrees to help Hisseini and introduces him to the white man’s way of riding horses. Hisseini also meets Estelle, a 12 year old French girl, getting ready for her first jumping competition with Stephanie. In a nearby town, Moussa is working as a stable boy for Atanase, a Greek man who has trained horses and jockeys in Africa for over 20 years. Moussa dreams to become a jockey like his brother Adoum. Adoum is to run for the Ramadan competition in the town’s central square. In that race, most jockeys ride barefoot, with no saddle nor stirrups.
The big day has arrived for Estelle, Adoum and Hisseini. They have to prove to their family that they are seasoned riders of the Sahara.
Genre: Environment & Discovery, Africa, Documentary
Director: Eric Elléna
Producers: French Connection Films, Equidia, TV10 Angers
Year: 2004
Length: 52 minutes
Languages: English, French
Partners: CNC (French Film Board), AB Group
Broadcasters: Equidia, Escale, TV 10 Angers (France), Arte (France & Germany), Raitre (Italy), RTM (Morocco), STV (Cameroon), Medi1Sat (Maghreb)
English
Français