Bamako (2007) Movie Information:

Bamako (2007) Directed by: Abderrahmane Sissako Bamako (2007) Written by: Abderrahmane Sissako Bamako (2007) Cast: Aïssa Maïga, Tiécoura Traoré, Hélène Diarra, Habib Dembélé, Djénéba Koné, Hamadoun Kassogué, Danny Glover, Elia Suleiman, Zeka Laplaine, Samba Diakité, Aminata Traoré

Bamako (2007) U.S. Distributor: New Yorker Films Bamako (2007) U.K. Distributor: Not available at this time

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Bamako (2007) Synopsis:

Set in the courtyard of a mud walled house in Bamako, the capital city of Mali, the film voices Africa's grievances in an original and profoundly moving way: educating, and at the same time, entertaining the audience. The intimate personal story of an African couple on the verge of breaking up is told alongside very public political proceedings. The country's civil society is taking action against the international financial institutions whom they directly blame for Africa's woes. With humor and rhythm, everyday life goes on in the midst of the powerful testimonials and pleas made at the trial. A lush mix of warm colors and inspirational music, "Bamako" is a unique opportunity for a worldwide audience to become familiar with contemporary Africa.

Bamako (2007) Movie Review:

This powerful film is a complex expression of Africa's heart and soul in the face of unspeakable global injustice. It may be conceptual and a bit mannered, but it's also moving and essential.

In Bamako, the capital of Mali, the bar singer Melé (Maïga) and her out-of-work husband Chaka (Traoré) are struggling with their marriage even as, in the courtyard of their home, a trial gets underway in which African society accuses the World Bank of jeopardising lives. As witnesses give testimony and lawyers present their cases, Melé begins to care about what's happening, even as Chaka and his friend (Dembélé) start to lose interest--and hope.

Writer-director Sissako (Waiting for Happiness) films this like a documentary with added shades of irony and black comedy. Characters jostle with cameras and microphones as journalists broadcast the trial to the city. The testimony is startlingly matter-of-fact, firsthand observations by educated people who see their world crumbling due to unfair oppression from the West. The raw facts and figures are delivered with such emotion that we quickly understand that we're dealing with pauperisation, not poverty.

The West's banking systems (including debt cancellation), designed to assist developing nations, actually only help the rich feel better about plundering the world. While in poorer countries, easily treatable diseases become epidemics, life-spans are falling and illiteracy is rising. This is directly linked to such impositions as enforced privatisation of utilities, healthcare, transportation and education. And when the West talks about corruption, they're confusing causes and consequences (and pointing out a splinter in their neighbour's eye when they have a plank in their own).

The lament goes, "Why don't I sow? When I sow, why don't I reap? When I reap, why don't I eat?" Yes, this is strong stuff, but spoken in an articulate, measured, passionate West African voice, it's impossible to ignore. The legacy of European colonisation lives on in this crushing "neo-colonialism". As a film, this is expertly written, performed and edited--complete with a Sergio Leone-style cowboy interlude (starring Glover) that intriguingly offers to share the blame. Humanity's future is at stake here. And during the debate life goes on.

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Bamako (2007) review written by: Rich Cline