Sharon A. Russell's Guide to African Cinema
by thierry-05295 | created - 6 months ago | updated - 6 months ago | PublicFilms featured in Sharon A. Russell's book Guide to African Cinema, in alphabetical order.
Thanks to PeacefulAnarchy for finding the book and adding it to the IMDb.
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1. Africa, I Will Fleece You (1992)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary, History
A documentary examining political repression in Cameroon, Central Africa.
Director: Jean-Marie Téno | Stars: Jean-Marie Téno, Narcisse Kouokam, Marie Claire Dati, Essindi Mindja
Votes: 110
2. Allah Tantou (1992)
62 min | Documentary
Filmmaker David Achkar searches for his father, Marof Achkar, who was sent to the notorious Camp Boiro prison in 1969 for treason.
Director: David Achkar | Stars: David Achkar, Marof Achkar
Votes: 47
3. Angano... Angano... Tales from Madagascar (1989)
64 min | Documentary
Venerable storytellers recount for the camera and their listeners the founding myths of Malagasy culture.
Directors: Marie Clémence Andriamonta-Paes, Cesar Paes | Stars: Ambarazafy, Avimare, Arthur Besy, Fototselo
Votes: 63
4. The Battle of Algiers (1966)
Not Rated | 121 min | Drama, War
In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.
Director: Gillo Pontecorvo | Stars: Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi, Samia Kerbash
Votes: 65,642 | Gross: $0.06M
5. Camp de Thiaroye (1988)
157 min | Drama, War
In this semi-autobiographical film, black soldiers help to defend France, but are detained in prison camp before being repatriated home.
Directors: Ousmane Sembene, Thierno Faty Sow | Stars: Sidiki Bakaba, Hamed Camara, Ismaila Cissé, Ababacar Sy Cissé
Votes: 644
6. Outsiders (1977)
Not Rated | 120 min | Drama
In protest of forced conversion to Islam, the Ceddo (outsiders) kidnap King Demba War's daughter Princess Dior Yacine and hold her hostage.
Director: Ousmane Sembene | Stars: Tabata Ndiaye, Alioune Fall, Moustapha Yade, Matoura Dia
Votes: 1,092
7. Dilemma (II) (1962)
89 min | Drama
Around 1960, Englishman Toby Hood comes to Johannesburg to run a publishing company. He is open-minded and befriends people with different social ranks, but the harsh realities of society force him to make a choice about friendships.
Director: Henning Carlsen | Stars: Ivan Jackson, Evelyn Frank, Marijke Mann, Zakes Mokae
Votes: 106
8. Emitai (1971)
Not Rated | 103 min | Drama
As World War II is going on in Europe, a conflict arises between the French and the Diola-speaking tribe of Africa, prompting the village women to organize their men to sit beneath a tree to pray.
Director: Ousmane Sembene | Stars: Andongo Diabon, Robert Fontaine, Michel Renaudeau, Ousmane Camara
Votes: 477
9. Everyone's Child (1996)
90 min | Drama
Two teens, Tamari and Itai, are impoverished following the death of their parents when their uncle takes their plow which they need to feed themselves. While their preoccupied neighbors in ... See full summary »
Director: Tsitsi Dangarembga | Stars: Rachel Bednar, Fiona Bell, Fidelis Cheza, Kingston Chidawa
Votes: 74
10. Fary l'anesse (1988)
17 min | Short
A man in the pursuit of the "perfect" woman, ends up with something quite different than what he bargained for.
Director: Mansour Sora Wade | Stars: Dienaba Diallo, Mame Ndoumbé Diop, Amy Fall, Daouda Lam
Votes: 50
11. Women with Open Eyes (1994)
52 min | Documentary
Portraits of contemporary African women from four West African nations: Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Benin.
Director: Anne-Laure Folly | Stars: Djelika Diallo, Alimata Konate
Votes: 72
12. Finzan (1989)
107 min | Drama
Two women rebel against the traditions of a village society.
Director: Cheick Oumar Sissoko | Stars: Diarrah Sanogo, Oumar Namory Keita, Koti, Sadou Touré
Votes: 63
13. Le Franc (1994)
Not Rated | 46 min | Comedy
A broke and dopey musician, constantly harassed by his exasperated landlady, glues his lottery ticket to his door and when it turns out to be a winner must carry his door to the lottery office.
Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty | Stars: Dieye Ma, Aminata Fall, Demba Bâ
Votes: 322
14. Gito, l'ingrat (1992)
90 min | Comedy
Gito is a young African intellectual returning home from France with numerous academic degrees and ministerial ambitions. Gradually his ambitions are crushed by the daily realities of his ... See full summary »
Director: Léonce Ngabo | Stars: Joseph Kumbela, Marie Bunel, Aoua Sangare, Eric Depreter
Votes: 61
15. Le grand blanc de Lambaréné (1995)
Not Rated | 94 min | Biography, Drama
Cameroonian filmmaker Bassek ba Kobhio provides a fascinating revisionist perspective on Albert Schweitzer, Noble Peace Prize winner and secular saint of the colonial era. Like FRANTZ FANON... See full summary »
Director: Bassek Ba Kobhio | Stars: André Wilms, Marisa Berenson, Alex Descas, Elizabeth Bourgine
Votes: 70
16. Guelwaar (1992)
115 min | Drama
Burial of a Christian political activist in a Muslim cemetary forces a conflict imbued with religious fervor. A satiric portrayal of religion and politics, sometimes humorous, sometimes deadly serious.
Director: Ousmane Sembene | Stars: Abou Camara, Marie Augustine Diatta, Yama Diedhiou, Mame Ndoumbé Diop
Votes: 407 | Gross: $0.06M
17. Guimba the Tyrant (1995)
93 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Documents the rise and fall of a cruel and despotic village chief Guimba, and his son Jangine in a fictional village in the Sahel of Mali.
Director: Cheick Oumar Sissoko | Stars: Issa Falaba Traoré, Balla Moussa Keita, Habib Dembélé, Lamine Diallo
Votes: 245
18. Hyenas (1992)
Not Rated | 110 min | Comedy, Drama
Dramaan is the most popular man in Colobane, but when a woman from his past, now exorbitantly wealthy, returns to the town, things begin to change.
Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty | Stars: Mansour Diouf, Ami Diakhate, Mamadou Mahourédia Gueye, Djibril Diop Mambéty
Votes: 1,338 | Gross: $0.02M
19. The Line (1994 TV Movie)
150 min | Thriller
A young ANC activist and poet from Soweto is the sole witness to a brutal train massacre by an Inkatha militant.
Director: Brian Tilley | Stars: Vusi Kunene, Grace Mahlaba, Ramolao Makhene, Ian Roberts
Votes: 60
20. Jit (1990)
98 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
A young African man must try every trick in the book in this attempts to win the heart of the most beautiful girl in his village.
Director: Michael Raeburn | Stars: Dominic Makuwachuma, Sibongile Nene, Farai Sevenzo, Winnie Ndemera
Votes: 94
21. Keïta! L'héritage du griot (1995)
94 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
A storyteller named Djeliba comes to the town of a young boy named Mabo with promises that he will reveal the origin of the boy's ancestry.
Director: Dani Kouyaté | Stars: Seydou Boro, Hamed Dicko, Abdoulaye Komboudri, Sotigui Kouyaté
Votes: 174
22. Lumumba: Death of a Prophet (1991)
Not Rated | 69 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Documentary about African political leader Patrice Lumumba, who was Prime Minister of Zaire (now Congo) when he was assassinated in 1961.
Director: Raoul Peck | Star: Patrice Lumumba
Votes: 179
23. Neria (1991)
103 min | Drama
A classic African film that has struck a nerve that runs across the continent, with an original soundtrack and supporting performance by Zimbabwe's legendary World Music sensation, Oliver Mtukudzi.
Director: Godwin Mawuru | Stars: Jesesi Mungoshi, Dominic Kanaventi, Violet Ndlovu, Kubi Chaza
Votes: 97
24. Black Girl (1966)
Not Rated | 65 min | Drama
A black girl from Senegal becomes a servant in France.
Director: Ousmane Sembene | Stars: Mbissine Thérèse Diop, Anne-Marie Jelinek, Robert Fontaine, Momar Nar Sene
Votes: 6,010
25. Picc mi (1992)
20 min | Short
Follows the story of two young boys and their adventure through the streets of Africa.
Director: Mansour Sora Wade | Star: Youssou N'Dour
Votes: 75
26. Quartier Mozart (1992)
80 min | Comedy
A young girl crosses paths with a witch who has the power to satisfy her curiosity about men by changing her into one.
Director: Jean-Pierre Bekolo | Stars: Serge Amougou, Saïdou Abatcha, Timoléon Luc Boyogueno, Atebass
Votes: 98
27. Ramparts of Clay (1970)
GP | 87 min | Drama
In an Algerian village, the workers of a salt mine go on strike because of low wages. The owner calls the army to control the men, but a young woman cuts off the water to force the troops to retreat.
Director: Jean-Louis Bertuccelli | Stars: Leila Shenna, Ahmed Kadri, Jean-Louis Trintignant
Votes: 131
28. Saaraba (1988)
90 min | Drama
Tamsir returns to Senegal after 17 years in Europe. His uncle gives him a patronage job in Dakar, virtually without duties. He visits his family's village to see his parents, and there he ... See full summary »
Director: Amadou Saalum Seck | Stars: Diankou Bakhayokho, Abdoul Aziz Diop, Fabienne Joëlle Felhio, Awa Cheick Gueye
Votes: 46
29. Sambizanga (1972)
Not Rated | 97 min | Drama
A man is wrongfully arrested and tortured to death after he is suspected of being part of a revolutionary group.
Director: Sarah Maldoror | Stars: Elisa Andrade, Domingos de Oliveira, Jean M'Vondo, Dino Abelino
Votes: 773
30. The Silences of the Palace (1994)
116 min | Drama
As she grows up, Alia (the daughter of housemaid Khedija) learns the secrets of the peaceful palace where she and her mother live.
Director: Moufida Tlatli | Stars: Hind Sabri, Ghalya Lacroix, Nejia Ouerghi, Amel Hedhili
Votes: 1,107
31. Sango Malo (1990)
93 min | Drama
Sango Malo contrasts two views of education. The traditional headmaster represents a rigid, "Eurocentric." curriculum designed to produce docile colonial administrators. Malo, the radical ... See full summary »
Director: Bassek Ba Kobhio | Stars: Jeanne Abanda, Epaye Monny Akwa, Jean-Pierre Atangana Messi, Daniel Bakang
Votes: 44
32. Fire! (1991)
100 min | Drama
A young forest ranger who sees that his work holds the key to the future of his country is disgusted at the short-sighted, money-grubbing ways of his superiors.
Director: Adama Drabo | Stars: Djeneba Diawara, Mamadou Fomba, Balla Moussa Keita, Diarrah Sanogo
Votes: 36
33. The Law (1990)
81 min | Drama, Romance
Set in a pre-colonial African past, Tilai is about an illicit love affair and its consequences. Saga returns to his village after an extended absence to discover that his father has taken ... See full summary »
Director: Idrissa Ouedraogo | Stars: Rasmané Ouédraogo, Ina Cissé, Roukietou Barry, Assane Ouédraogo
Votes: 669
34. Touki Bouki (1973)
Not Rated | 85 min | Drama
Mory, a cowherd, and Anta, a university student, try to make money in order to go to Paris and leave their boring past behind.
Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty | Stars: Magaye Niang, Myriam Niang, Christoph Colomb, Mustapha Ture
Votes: 4,103
35. Twist à Popenguine (1994)
85 min | Comedy, Drama
This bittersweet, coming of age story is a kind of African equivalent of George Lucas' American Graffiti, Spike Lee's Crooklyn or Godard's Masculin/Feminin.
Director: Moussa Sene Absa | Stars: Ousmane Bo, Ibrahima M'Baye, Patrice Nassalang, Marieme Fall
Votes: 82
36. The Blue Eyes of Yonta (1992)
90 min | Drama
A beautiful, intelligent and flirtatious young girl, Yonta, is secretly in love with a friend of her parents, Vicente, a hero of the war of independence. Vicente is unaware of her passion ... See full summary »
Director: Flora Gomes | Stars: Maysa Marta, Pedro Dias, Antonio Simao Mendes, Mohamed Lamine Seidi
Votes: 155
37. Life Is Rosy (1987)
Not Rated | 80 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Kourou comes from a village to Kinshasa, Zaire's capital and the center of World Beat; music is in his heart and he has big dreams. Right away he gets a job as a domestic for Mamou, the ... See full summary »
Directors: Benoît Lamy, Mweze Ngangura | Stars: Papa Wemba, Bibi Krubwa, Landu Nzunzimbu Matshia, Kanko Kasongo
Votes: 200
38. Visages de femmes (1985)
105 min | Comedy, Drama
At a festival, a chorus of women sing and dance as two stories unfold. In a village, a young women with a jealous husband gives him something to be jealous about when his younger brother visits from the city.
Director: Désiré Ecaré | Stars: Sidiki Bakaba, Kouadou Brou, Albertine N'Guessan, Eugénie Cissé-Roland
Votes: 101
39. Wend Kuuni (1982)
75 min | Drama
In pre-colonial times a peddler crossing the savanna discovers a child lying unconscious in the bush. When the boy comes to, he is mute and cannot explain who he is. The peddler leaves him ... See full summary »
Director: Gaston Kaboré | Stars: Serge Yanogo, Rosine Yanogo, Joseph Nikiema, Colette Kaboré
Votes: 271
40. Xala (1975)
Not Rated | 123 min | Comedy, Drama
A corrupt politician is cursed with impotence on the night of his third wedding after embezzling 100 tons of rice.
Director: Ousmane Sembene | Stars: Thierno Leye, Myriam Niang, Seune Samb, Fatim Diagne
Votes: 1,939
41. Yeelen (1987)
Not Rated | 105 min | Drama, Fantasy
A young man with magical powers journeys to his uncle to request help in fighting his sorcerer father.
Director: Souleymane Cissé | Stars: Issiaka Kane, Aoua Sangare, Niamanto Sanogo, Balla Moussa Keita
Votes: 2,753
42. Zan Boko (1988)
95 min | Drama
In the Mossi culture, one of the rites attending the birth of a child and its induction as a new member of the community involves the burial of the placenta. The space in which the placenta... See full summary »
Director: Gaston Kaboré | Stars: Mathias Bayili, Colette Kaboré, Joseph Nikiema, Hyppolite Ouangrawa
Votes: 94
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