Moolaadé (2004)

When a woman shelters a group of girls from suffering female genital mutilation, she starts a conflict that tears her village apart.

Director:

Ousmane Sembene

Writer:

Ousmane Sembene

Stars:

Fatoumata Coulibaly, Maimouna Hélène Diarra, Salimata Traoré

6 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Rasmané Ouédraogo	...	Ciré Bathily (as Rasmane Ouedraogo)
Ousmane Konaté	...	Amath Bathily
Bakaramoto Sanogo	...	Abdou
Modibo Sangaré	...	Balla Bathily
Joseph Traoré	...	Dugutigi
Théophile Sowié	...	Ibrahima (as Moussa Théophile Sowié)
Habib Dembélé	...	Sacristain
Gustave Sorgho	...	Bakary
Cheick Oumar Maiga	...	Kémo Tiékura

Storyline

In an African village this is the day when six 4-9-year-old girls are to be 'cut' (the act of female genital mutilation) All children know that the operation is horrible torture and sometimes lethal, and all adults know that some cut women can only give birth by Caesarean section. Two of the girls have drowned themselves in the well to escape the operation. The four other girls seek "magical protection" (moolaadé) by a woman (Colle) who seven years before refused to have her daughter circumcised. Moolaadé is indicated by a coloured rope. But no one would dare step over and fetch the children. Moolaadé can only be revoked by Colle herself. Her husband's relatives persuade him to whip her in public into revoking. Opposite groups of women shout to her to revoke or to be steadfast, but no woman interferes. When Colle is at the wedge of fainting, the merchant takes action and stops the maltreatment. Therefore he is hunted out of the village and, when out of sight, murdered.

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Plot Keywords:

africa | female genital mutilation | mutilation | torture | f rated | 

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Taglines:

Set in Burkina Faso, an inspiring story about a group of women who stand up for their rights against the traditions of their village

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Goofs

Mercenaire's shirt is drenched with sweat when he takes a drink before setting up shop, but is dry when customers begin to arrive.

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Connections

Featured in Cinematic Venom Presents: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die: Moolaadé (2004) (2019)

User Reviews

Very moving....

This is a candid picture of West African village life with a tale centered on a most sensitive subject. A tale told with humour and an honesty that is lacking in so many mainstream films. Sometimes shocking and at other times hilarious, it describes the story of the women of one village and their struggle to overcome the petty male tyranny that imposed the tradition of female circumcision and the ostracism of any who refused it. The male elders set an almost Taliban like regime claiming that female genital mutilation is a requirement for women as stated in the Koran. This of course is wrong and one woman's bravery is enough to turn the tide and change things forever. Well worth a watch if you have the chance - don't be put of by the subject matter.....

Details

Country:

Senegal Burkina Faso Morocco Tunisia Cameroon France

Language:

Bambara French

Release Date:

9 March 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

Haha tachi no Mura

Filming Locations:

Senegal

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,982, 17 October 2004

Gross USA:

$215,646

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$495,270

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmi Doomireew, Direction de la Cinematographie Nationale, Centre Cinématographique Marocain

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1