IMDb > Moolaadé (2004)
Moolaadé
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Moolaadé (2004) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

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7.5/10   1,739 votes »
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View company contact information for Moolaadé on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 March 2005 (Austria) See more »
Genre:
Tagline:
Set in Burkina Faso, an inspiring story about a group of women who stand up for their rights against the traditions of their village
Plot:
When a woman shelters a group of girls from suffering female circumcision, she starts a conflict that tears her village apart. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Awards:
6 wins & 8 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
“The Films of Ousmane Sembène” At New York State Writers Institute (Event)
 (From ShadowAndAct. 9 September 2010, 9:25 AM, PDT)

Images of the Decade: Words
 (From MUBI. 16 January 2010, 8:00 AM, PST)

Danny Glover & Ousmane Sembene On The Fabulous Picture Show
 (From ShadowAndAct. 11 December 2009, 5:26 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
Another gem from an African icon See more (19 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order)
Fatoumata Coulibaly ... Collé Gallo Ardo Sy
Maimouna Hélène Diarra ... Hadjatou
Salimata Traoré ... Amasatou
Dominique Zeïda ... Mercenaire
Mah Compaoré ... Doyenne des Exciseuses
Aminata Dao ... Alima Bâ
Rasmane Ouedraogo ... Ciré Bathily
Ousmane Konaté ... Amath Bathily
Bakaramoto Sanogo ... Abdou
Modibo Sangaré ... Balla Bathily
Joseph Traoré ... Dugutigi
Théophile Sowié ... Ibrahima (as Moussa Théophile Sowié)
Balla Habib Dembélé ... Sacristain (as Habib Dembélé)
Gustave Sorgho ... Bakary
Cheick Oumar Maiga ... Kémo Tiékura
Sory Ibrahima Koïta ... Kémo Ansumana (as Ibrahima Sory Koita)
Aly Sanon ... Konaté
Moussa Sanogo ... Konaté fils
Naky Sy Savane ... Sanata (as Naki Sy Savane)
Stéphanie Nikiema ... Mah
Marie Yameogo ... Exciseuse (as Marie Augustine Yameogo)
Mabintou Baro ... Exciseuse
Tata Konaté ... Exciseuse
Fatoumata Sanogo ... Exciseuse
Madjara Konaté ... Exciseuse
Fatoumata Konaté ... Exciseuse
Fatoumata Sanou ... Nafissatou
Mamissa Sanogo ... Oumy
Mariama Souabo ... Jaatu
Lala Drabo ... Saaiba
Georgette Paré ... Niassi
Assita Soura ... Seymabou
Alimatou Traoré ... Binetou
Edith Nana Kaboré ... Ibatou
Maminata Sanogo ... Coumba
Sanata Sanogo ... La Reine mère
Mafirma Sanogo ... Fify
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Directed by
Ousmane Sembene 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Ousmane Sembene 

Produced by
Thierry Lenouvel .... co-producer
Ousmane Sembene .... producer
 
Original Music by
Boncana Maïga 
 
Cinematography by
Dominique Gentil 
 
Film Editing by
Abdellatif Raïss 
 
Production Design by
Joseph Kpobly 
 
Production Management
Drissa Auba .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clarence Thomas Delgado .... first assistant director
Dominique Zeïda .... second assistant director
 
Sound Department
Christian Germain .... foley artist
Denis Guilhem .... sound
Jean-Guy Veran .... sound re-recording mixer
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Sylvain Bardoux .... grip
Sylvain Bardoux .... key grip
 
Other crew
Sophie Dwernicki .... script supervisor
Claire Viroulaud .... press attache
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Runtime:
124 min
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The meaning of the word Moolaadé is magical protection.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: Mercenaire's shirt is drenched with sweat when he takes a drink before setting up shop, but is dry when customers begin to arrive.See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (TV)See more »

FAQ

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15 out of 15 people found the following review useful.
Another gem from an African icon, 12 June 2005
Author: connorjm from Manchester, England

One of legendary Senagalese director Ousmane Sembene's defining films. A fascinating study of the clash between pragmatic modern thinking and staunch religious traditionalism in Senegal. The film focuses on the controversial procedure of 'purification', in which young girls are forced to undergo genital mutilation to supposedly make them better, more faithful, wives in the future. When six young girls flee the process, four of them seek refuge with a well-known woman, Collé (Fatoumata Coulibaly), who is viewed with suspicion in the community for her stubborn refusal to adhere to all the societal 'norms'. Collé offers the girls protection (moolaadé), a spell which can only be broken if she herself utters the words which will end the moolaadé. Collé herself had refused to let her daughter be 'purified' and her actions prove to be inflammatory, causing the elders to become increasingly nervy about her failure to conform. As their control mechanism is slowly eroded they lash out and the community takes on alarming animalistic tendencies. Although the film ends in a rather idealistic fashion, Sembene's work is both moving and engaging. His stance on the core debate is clear but the views of the various community members are not so. In this way he is able to explore ideas of male hegemony while simultaneously studying the difficulties faced by the patriarch in striving towards accepted constructions of masculinity. Sembene understands the quirks of this society and his representations of these offer both light relief and food for thought. Ultimately the film swings back to the debate at its core - the battle between old and new. The modern approach is symbolised by the women's radios (and the knowledge acquired from them) and by the chief's French-educated son, who becomes the first to turn his back on the male elders. Religious traditionalism manifests itself through a ruthless and outdated male hegemony and it is clear that Sembene sees feminism as a crucial means by which modernisation can be achieved. His film provides an insight into an under-represented part of the world. It is a beautifully told story which offers a multi-layered yet concise analysis of ongoing issues which are relevant to us all.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Moolaadé (2004)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
What happened to Mercenaire (Spoilers) tonirobinson
we should not call it circumcision but excision/mutilation ACA13
we could use a film about American circumcision tkulawik
is the mosque real? shivapuri
Stain on Colle's chin? dmullman
Western Influence sarah-whitley
See more »

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