Bamako (2006)

Bamako. Melé is a bar singer, her husband Chaka is out of work and the couple is on the verge of breaking up... In the courtyard of the house they share with other families, a trial court ... See full summary »

Director:

Abderrahmane Sissako

Writer:

Abderrahmane Sissako

Stars:

Aïssa Maïga, Tiécoura Traoré, Maimouna Hélène Diarra

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aïssa Maïga	...	Melé
Tiécoura Traoré	...	Chaka
Maimouna Hélène Diarra	...	Saramba (as Hélène Diarra)
Balla Habib Dembélé	...	Falaï (as Habib Dembélé)
Djénéba Koné	...	La soeur de Chaka
Hamadoun Kassogué	...	Le journaliste
William Bourdon	...	Avocat partie civile
Mamadou Kanouté	...	Avocat de la défense (as Mamadou Konaté)
Gabriel Magma Konate	...	Le procureur (as Magma Gabriel Konaté)
Aminata Traoré	...	Témoin 2
Danny Glover	...	Cow-boy
Elia Suleiman	...	Cow-boy
Abderrahmane Sissako	...	Cow-boy (as Dramane Sissako)
Jean-Henri Roger	...	Cow-boy
Zeka Laplaine	...	Cow-boy

Storyline

Bamako. Melé is a bar singer, her husband Chaka is out of work and the couple is on the verge of breaking up... In the courtyard of the house they share with other families, a trial court has been set up. African civil society spokesmen have taken proceedings against the World Bank and the IMF whom they blame for Africa's woes... Amidst the pleas and the testimonies, life goes on in the courtyard. Chaka does not seem to be concerned by this novel Africa's desire to fight for its rights...

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Plot Keywords:

africa | imf | world bank | city name in title | justice | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Mali USA France

Language:

French Bambara English Hebrew

Release Date:

18 October 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

Das Weltgericht von Bamako

Filming Locations:

Bamako, Mali

Box Office

Budget:

€2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$12,842 (USA) (16 February 2007)

Gross:

$112,351 (USA) (26 October 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Archipel 33, Chinguitty Films, Mali Images

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the inset "Death in Timbuktu" "western," just before the first gunshot, a car can be seen moving between two buildings in the background. This, however, could be interpreted as intentional by the director, who was parodying non-Western interpretations of a "western" (other countries who partake in a love of westerns are Thailand and Cambodia). The child in this scene is also wearing a Nike shirt. The effect is to present the sort of low-budget, pulp film one might see in a television broadcast in Mali, while supplying a metaphor to the actual movie's plot.

User Reviews

Documentary/Film not for the narrow minded, not for the fanatics

I had no idea what I was getting into when I went to watch this film. I can't tell much without giving away what the movie is all about. I will only say that the "acting" is just perfect, as long as it is not acting. People are mostly activists who actually speak out the truth. The movie is highly symbolic and we have to understand that the director is not trying to be realistic or straightforward. The trial that is taking place in a regular house yard, is surrounded by the everyday lives of the people of Bamako. The result is moving, beautiful and awakening experience. Especially for those who are not very familiar with the situation in Africa and don't know or don't want to know what the West is doing to billions of people around the world in order to maintain our level of useless consumption, it will be an eye opening experience. I absolutely recommend this movie.