Moolaadé
Composite Score: 85.43
Starring: Fatoumata Coulibaly, Maimouna Hélène Diarra, Salimata Traoré, Dominique Zeïda, Rasmané Ouédraogo, Ousmane Konaté, Joseph Traoré, and Théophile Sowié
Director: Ousmane Sembene
Writer: Ousmane Sembene
Genres: Drama, Family
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Box Office: $495,270 worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Moolaadé is Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene’s final film, which follows a group of women who decide to take a stand against the practice of female circumcision in their village, causing an upheaval of traditions and gender roles. Fatoumata Coulibaly leads the charge as Collé, the village woman protecting the four girls who fled from the “purification” ceremony with her invocation of Moolaadé – a form of magical protection – and is joined by Maimouna Hélène Diarra as her elder fellow wife Hadjatou, Salimata Traoré as her only daughter Amasatou, and Dominique Zeïda as the travelling salesman “Mercenaire” who has come to town and witnesses the events that unfold. The film has been celebrated for its depiction of life in western Africa while diving more broadly into the politics of gender roles and control of information.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Moolaadé is undeniably a lower budget film than most Western audiences might be accustomed to, resulting in a cinematography that looks like a home movie at times that can take the audience out of the story if they’re not careful. Certain cuts and scene transitions can feel a bit rushed or drastic, giving the film a sense of amateurism that not every audience will be in love with. On the other hand, the costuming, set design, and conflict all take on a much more personal and realistic tone from this lack of polish that might help elevate the film in the eyes of others, so it really comes down to preference and how you see it.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
At the end of the day, the universal tale told in Moolaadé – of women overcoming oppression and of oppressors seeking to control access to information for fear of the change it will bring – helps it overcome any shortcomings that might be attributed to its smaller scale and budget. Obviously, the specific story and issues that the film deals with are incredibly important as well, and the more people that recognize the plight of women in such communities the more improvements we will see, like the one depicted at the end of the film; but I think that what makes Moolaadé such a great film is the fact that its message goes beyond just its immediate issues and touches on things that even Westerners deal with, reminding all audiences of the universality of the human situation. This universality also serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers inherent in patriarchy, but in a broader sense, it reminds the audience of the importance of access to information and that those who seek to restrict that access seek to restrict it not from a place of benevolence but from a place of control.
Ousmane Sembene has touched on universal truths in his film about villagers in western Africa advocating for humane and ethical treatment of women, making Moolaadé an easily accessible film that deserves a watch as one of the Greatest Films of All Time. Its feel as a non-Western, small budget film may or may not be your cup of tea, but if you stick it out, I’m pretty sure you’ll find something worth taking away from it. It is currently not streaming anywhere that I could find in the U.S., but if you can, it might be worth picking up at a local library or used movie store or the like.
