A look at the brief occupation of Timbuktu by militant Islamic rebels.
Timbuktumovingly attests to the human will to resist the terrors and injustices of absolutism.
Under Timbuktu's new rulers, music, laughter, and sports (even soccer) have been prohibited, and kangaroo courts hand down horrendous and absurd punishments by the might of the gun.
Official submission of Mauritania to the best foreign language film category of the 87th Academy Awards 2015.
Timbuktu is silent, the doors closed, the streets empty. No more music, no tea, no cigarettes, no bright colors, no laughs. The women have become shadows. The religious fundamentalists are spreading terror in the region.
Following the recent jihadist takeover of northern Mali, a proud cattle herder comes into fateful conflict with the fundamentalist rulers of the provincial capital, in this luminous, lyrical and poetic drama from the great African filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako.
A gazelle strides across the desert, under the sound of a car's rumbling engine; seconds later, bullets cut the animal down in its tracks. The opening sequence of Abderrahmane Sissako's magisterial Timbuktu — which premiered to acclaim at this year's Cannes — encapsulates the essential truth of violent extremism: to destroy grace and beauty, not only with impunity but with an ironclad self-righteousness. Set during the early days of the 2012 fundamentalist takeover of northern Mali and inspired by real people and real events, Timbuktu is a searing drama about the everyday woes and resistance of ordinary people in a city overrun by extremist foreign fighters.
Under Timbuktu's new rulers, music, laughter, and sports (even soccer) have been prohibited, and kangaroo courts hand down horrendous and absurd punishments by the might of the gun.Kidane (Ibrahim Ahmed, aka Pino Desperado) — a herder who lives in the dunes on the edge of the city with his wife Satima (Toulou Kiki), daughter Toya (Layla Walet Mohamed), and twelve-year-old shepherd Issan (Mehdi Ag Mohamed) — has so far been unaffected by the harsh new regime. But when, during a row over the slaughter of his prize cow, he accidentally kills a fisherman, he experiences first-hand the nightmarish perversion of "justice" practiced by the occupiers.
Luminous, lyrical, and poetic, Sissako's Timbuktu accomplishes what only the highest of art can: from the horrors of war, it distills enduring truths. Featuring striking cinematography by Sofiane El Fani, consummate editing by Nadia Ben Rachid, and outstanding performances from its ensemble cast, Timbuktumovingly attests to the human will to resist the terrors and injustices of absolutism.(RASHA SALTI)
Abderrahmane Sissako was born in Kiffa, Mauritania, and moved to Mali as a child. Following his feature debut, Documenta X — Die Filme (97), his subsequent films all screened at the Festival and include Life on Earth (98), Waiting for Happiness (02), which won the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes, and Bamako (06).
Timbuktu (2014), which won the François Chalais Award at Cannes, is his latest film.
Credits
Abderrahmane Sissako - Director Nadia BEN RACHID - Film Editor Sofian EL FANI - Director of Photography Philippe WELSH - Audio engineer Thierry DELOR - Re-recording mixer Ami SOW - Costumes designer Roman DYMNY - Sound Sébastien BIRCHLER - Set decorator Kessen TALL - Script / Dialogue Demba DIEYE - Assistant director Amine BOUHAFA - Music Abderrahmane Sissako - Script / Dialogue Sylvie PIALAT - Producer Abderrahmane Sissako - Producer
Actors
Ibrahim AHMED - Kidane Toulou KIKI - Satima Abel JAFRI - Abdelkrim Fatou DIAWARA - Fatou la chanteuse Hicham YACOUBI - Djihadiste Kettly NOÊL - Zabou