The Pirogue  A handsome work that makes up in skill and honesty
what it lacks in originality.  For helmer Moussa Toure, journeys
are more interesting than destinations. His sophomore pic,
“TGV,” was set on a long bus ride, and his third feature, “The
Pirogue,” largely takes place within a crowded boat (the title
refers to a flat-bottomed vessel common in Western Africa).
Unsurprisingly, the men and one woman facing the dangerous sea
voyage from Senegal to Spain risk far more than most coach
passengers, and Toure crafts a handsome work that makes up in
skill and honesty what it lacks in originality. Smooth sailing
can be predicted at fests and in Francophone territories.  News
channels in Europe broadcast stories at least once a week about
ill-fated crossings between Africa and “the Old World.”
Thousands die yearly of drowning, exposure and starvation, yet
the sheer scale of the crisis means that most reports feature
depersonalized images and numbing numbers. “The Pirogue”
counters cold statistics with a range