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CineMAfriq Film Series

An archive and resource for films discussed as part of the BU African Studies Libraries' CineMAfriq Film Series.

La Cathedrale (Mauritius, 2006)

Based on a book by Ananda Devi with the same title. " A day in the life of Lina, a young girl from Port-Louis, capital of Mauritius, seen through the eyes of the cathedral. This day will not be the same as the rest when an unexpected meeting brings Lina face to face with reality and she is forced to make a choice."

(In English, French, Morisyen) 

(78 minutes)

Further Resources

Discussion Questions

  1. What is your overall impressions of the film? Did you like it? 

  2. What was the message of this film? Did it have a message? What was the overall tone-- Hopeful? Bleak? Both? 

  3. For any French learners/speakers: were you able to understand Creole? Overall thoughts on use of language, and how & when it was used?

  4. How did you feel about the ending? Any speculation on what happens next?

  5. Thoughts on the cinematography? Non-verbal aspects of the film?

  6. Is there (or what is) a deeper message behind this story? Could we draw parallels between Lina’s story and the larger story of Port Louis and Mauritius itself?

  7. The film opens and closes from the perspective of the Cathedral. What are your thoughts on how the story is framed through this particular lens?

  8. What does Lina represent in this film?  

  9. What insights on Mauritius, or most specifically, Port Louis, do you feel that you gain from watching this film?  On community? Race? Gender? Religion?  

  10. How did the photographer’s encounter with Lina make you feel? Where you surprised at the eventual outcome?  

  11. What do you think causes Lina to make the decision that she does?

Characters (for reference)