Life as a young female car mechanic in Burkina Faso - Film Ouaga Girls

Ouaga Girls - directed by Theresa Traore Dahlberg, screening Wednesday 26th at 19:00 at the Théâtre de Marens in Nyon and Thursday 27th at 20:30 at the Théâtre de Grand Champ in Gland.

Every year the Visions du Réel documentary film festival brings the world to Nyon and in this documentary, the viewer is transported to the heat and life of Burkina Faso. It follows a group of girls in Ouagadougou who are studying to be car mechanics. They are determined to be a success in life - be independent, earn money, look after their family, do a "man's job". This in a country where over half the young people do not have employment.

Some girls can't wait to get off the course and are bored, they are impatient to make money and do something. There certainly seems to be plenty of hanging around during the studying which goes slowly, in between fixing broken cars they chat, they braid each other's hair and occasionally they try to avoid work. But skills are learned, exams are sat and opportunities are taken. They are also given lessons in morality, they are provided with a counsellor and we hear some of their personal stories and goals for life. Meanwhile political change is happening throughout the country.

It all adds up to a gentle and uplifting film that leaves you wanting the sequel.

Photos above and below - courtesy Visions du Réel