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

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aïssa Maïga	...	Melé
Tiécoura Traoré	...	Chaka
Maimouna Hélène Diarra	...	Saramba (as Hélène Diarra)
Habib Dembélé	...	Falaï
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 | world bank | imf | politics | allegory | 

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Genres:

Drama

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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.

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Quotes

Avocat partie civile: We cannot throw Paul Wolfowitz into the Niger. The caimans wouldn't want him.

User Reviews

One of a kind - truly!

As a South African, I have just been riveted by this film. It is not an entertaining film. Thought provoking would be a better description.

Though made a year before, it throws light on what the Bali Conference was all about. The theme of the film - what the first world has done and continues to do to Africa - is of the utmost importance and the device used by the director to get his message across is just appropriate. It's just not possible to describe what you will see - just see it. If you watch it, you must see the interview with the director, for it helps to put the whole extraordinary film into perspective. He trained in Russia you can see the influence of Eisenstein and other Russian directors. I've deliberately not talked much about what you will see. The element of surprise is central to the success of the film.

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:

EUR2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,183, 18 February 2007

Gross USA:

$112,351

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,059,232

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