Boyi-biyo

The story begins in an abattoir somewhere in the Central African Republic, where every morning the cows are slaughtered. The great hunks of meat are tied together with rope and piled high on a handcart. Then the meat “pusher,” or courier, directs the overloaded cart through the hectic traffic to his boss, the butcher.

Shilo, the main protagonist, is one of these couriers. His nickname is boyi-biyo, or “double lung.” This short observational film gives an impression of his daily life, and of his dream to become a professional runner and win the marathon. He is passionate about running and determined to achieve his goal, but the practical realities of daily life are working against him. His wife thinks training is a waste of his time—she wants him to work more to provide for the family. Shilo’s friend, too, tries to talk him out of following his dream.

Shilo also needs money to pay for his young son’s circumcision, and he’s struggling a religious dilemma: should he follow the Catholic faith or the traditional Islamic Marabout?