Screening ‘Timbuktu’ (2014)

Timbuktu (Abderrahmane Sissako, France/Mauritania, 2014)
Introduced by Domitilla Olivieri
Duration: 95 min

Synopsis:
Not far from the ancient Malian city of Timbuktu, proud cattle herder Kidane lives peacefully in the dunes with his family. In town, the Jihadists are trying to reinforce hostile rules especially towards women, but also against other faiths, arts and activities, such as football, but especially against music. Violence, arrogance, and the impact of the Islamists’ rules on the everyday life of the village are some of the issues this film navigates, with a stunning soundtrack, beautiful images, poetic long takes, and an overall witty and sardonic, if also tragic, tone. Selected to compete for the Palm d’Or in the main competition section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. It won the award of the ecumenical Jury and the François Chalais Prize. It is the first ever submission of Mauritania to the best foreign language film category of the Academy Awards. Additionally, it is the first film shot in Mauritania by a Mauritanian director to win at the Cesar film awards, where it won seven awards, thus setting the record for being the African film with the most awards ever in the competition. 

Trailer