Obviously this was compressed - it was a period of some twenty years in four hours. However, the important historical aspects were all dealt with against the backdrop of personal relationships of real people, not least the romance and subsequent marriage between the Senegalese Fari Ciss and French nobleman Alain de Bourbon.
The story didn't spare truth from being revealed especially the ugly racism that existed in some of the colonists who got their chance during the War to unleash a reign of terror. The machinations of the Resistance, both colonists and locals was shown too - I loved the comeuppance of the dreaded security chief.
That an important part of the series took place in a cathouse was a true overview of French culture. They existed in English colonies but as houses of shame. Here the Madam was received by the Governor and best friends with his wife.
As someone who has visited Senegal several times, so much reminded me of my times there, not least the disreputable cafe-bar on Avenue Georges Pompidou where my female fellow traveller and I made friends with working girls from all over West Africa under the benevolent eye of a Frenchwoman of a certain age. Mentions of St Louis brought memories flooding back and I can never forget the red, red earth of the country and its trees.
The sudden and shocking ending was unexpected as I didn't know the history of that particular incident.
I knew that Senghor was a real person and had wondered if the other characters were real as the series went on (I hadn't known it was an historical drama) and was gratified to see at the end that the producers had included short sentences about what happened to the main characters after the series ended.
I'd recommend this to anyone. It made me quite emotional at times. I'm so glad I saw this.
