Bamako (Abderrahmane Sissako, Mali/France/US, 2006, 35mm, 115 min., French & Bambara w/ English subtitles) is a narrative film centered around a tribunal between ordinary Africans and the representatives of the international financial institutions that supposedly exist to eradicate poverty. The plaintiffs are the people of Africa; the defendants, charged with worsening the economic plight of the continent, are the World Bank and the IMF. To staff the tribunal in Bamako, Sissako sought out real judges and lawyers, whom he armed with extensive research material. He also assembled a cross section of witnesses, from childhood friends to a former minister of culture, all appearing as themselves. Once the cameras were rolling, he allowed the improvised arguments to unfold without interruption. Witness after witness lands blow after blow against the economic policies of the international financial bodies, contending that they have contributed to the impoverishment of Africa and led to cuts in health care and education.
Free. Reserve tickets here: https://lightboxfilmcenter.org/programs/bamako3
Recent Comments