Timbuktu is a quiet town governed by Islamic fundamentalists. For Kidane, who lives a peaceful existence with his family outside the city, everything changes when he accidentally kills a local fisherman. In his visually arresting and powerful film, director Sissako chose a narrative style both original and distinctive, in which he blends absurd humor with moments of tragedy. The result is an uncompromising statement on religious fanaticism, malice, and the desire for power.
Controlled by a group of Islamic fundamentalists, Timbuktu has gone completely quiet, the streets are empty, house doors are closed, neighbors have stopped meeting to chat, it’s even forbidden to smoke. Kidane lives on the tranquil dunes nearby with his wife Satima, daughter Toya, and their 12-year-old cowherd, Issan. The seeming repose of their lives is turned upside down when Kidane accidentally kills a fisherman named Amadou and must answer to newly instituted laws. In his visually arresting and powerful film, director Sissako chose a distinctive narrative style, in which he blends absurd humor with moments of tragedy. He combined veteran actors (often cast in negative roles) with nonactors, and submitted an uncompromising exposé on religious fanaticism, malice, and the desire for power. The movie is loosely based on an actual tragedy that took place in 2012 in Aguelhok, Mali, when a man and woman were stoned to death because they lived together with children under one roof but were not "married before God.” The film screened to deserved acclaim in the main competition at the Cannes IFF.
97 min / Color, DCP
Director Abderrahmane Sissako
/ Screenplay Abderrahmane Sissako, Kessen Tall
/ Dir. of Photography Sofiane El Fani
/ Music Amine Bouhafa
/ Editor Nadia Ben Rachid
/ Producer Sylvie Pialat
/ Production Les Films du Worso, Dune Vision
/ Coproduction Arches Films, Orange Studio
/ Cast Ibrahim Ahmed, Toulou Kiki, Abel Jafri, Fatoumata Diawara
/ Contact Le Pacte
Abderrahmane Sissako (b.1961, Kiffa, Mauritania) grew up in Mali. He graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow, where he lived for over 10 years. His films are regularly presented at international film festivals, including the Cannes IFF. His early filmography includes the titles The Game (1989, short), October (1992, short), The Camel and the Floating Sticks (1995, short), "Sabrya” (1996, from the TV series "Africa Dreaming”), Rostov-Luanda (1997, documentary), and Life on Earth (1997). Waiting for Happiness (Heremakono, 2002) played in Cannes’ Un certain regard section and then at Karlovy Vary. Then came Bamako (2006), Stories on Human Rights (segment: "N’Dimagou” / "Dignity,” 2008), the short film Pottital – ensemble, and most recently Timbuktu, chosen to compete this year at Cannes.
Le Pacte
5, rue Darcet, 750 17, Paris
France
Phone: +33 144 695 959
Fax: +33 144 695 942
E-mail: [email protected]
First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.
