Jom
“‘Jom' is a Wolof word which has no equivalent in French or in English. ‘Jom' means dignity, courage, respect.... It is the origin of all virtues. It somehow means an elegance in the way one lives. Fidelity towards one's involvements. Respect towards others and oneself. Jom guides the lives and behavior of thousands of people in West Africa. For them, it is Jom which makes a man, and not his family origins or his wealth. Jom protects us against the absurdity of life....” (Ababacar Samb Makharam). The setting for the film Jom is a bitter factory strike against corrupt bosses. The striking workers are supported by the troubadour Khali, a “griot” or tribal storyteller, who spins tales (told in flashback) from historical periods when Jom prevailed, and men chose to die rather than lose their dignity. Director Makharam proves himself to be a skillful “griot” as the anecdotes take on a vivid pageantry and intensity, serving both as a contrast and an inspiration to the modern world.