Ousmane Sembène
Ousmane Sembène (January 1, 1923 — June 9, 2007), often credited in the French style as Sembène Ousmane in articles and reference works, was a Senegalese film director, producer and writer. The Los Angeles Times considered him one of the greatest authors of Africa and he has often been called the "Father of African film."
Faat Kiné (2001)
A forty-year-old woman refuses to give into the stigma of unwed motherhood and climbs the ladder of success in a male dominated field. (more)
A forty-year-old woman refuses to give into the stigma of unwed motherhood and climbs the ladder of success in a male dominated field. (more)
Emitaï (1971)
As World War II is going on in Europe, a conflict arises between the French and the Diola-speaking tribe of Africa, prompting the village women to organize their men to sit beneath a tree to pray. (more)
As World War II is going on in Europe, a conflict arises between the French and the Diola-speaking tribe of Africa, prompting the village women to organize their men to sit beneath a tree to pray. (more)
Tauw (1970)
A young unemployed man fends off accusations of laziness and makes a home for his pregnant girlfriend who has been rejected by her family. (more)
A young unemployed man fends off accusations of laziness and makes a home for his pregnant girlfriend who has been rejected by her family. (more)
Camp de Thiaroye (1988)
A Senegalese platoon of soldiers from the French Free Army are returned from combat in France and held for a temporary time in a military encampment with barbed wire fences and guard towers in the desert. Among their numbers are Sergeant Diatta, the charismatic ... (more)
A Senegalese platoon of soldiers from the French Free Army are returned from combat in France and held for a temporary time in a military encampment with barbed wire fences and guard towers in the desert. Among their numbers are Sergeant Diatta, the charismatic ... (more)
Ceddo (1977)
When King Demba War sides with the Muslims, the Ceddo kidnap his daughter, Princess Dior Yacine, to protest their forcible conversion to Islam. (more)
When King Demba War sides with the Muslims, the Ceddo kidnap his daughter, Princess Dior Yacine, to protest their forcible conversion to Islam. (more)
Guelwaar
(1993)
Burial of a Christian political activist in a Muslim cemetary forces a conflict imbued with religious fervor. (more)
Burial of a Christian political activist in a Muslim cemetary forces a conflict imbued with religious fervor. (more)
Moolaadé (2004)
When a woman shelters a group of girls from suffering female genital mutilation, she starts a conflict that tears her village apart. (more)
When a woman shelters a group of girls from suffering female genital mutilation, she starts a conflict that tears her village apart. (more)
Xala (1975)
ComplexDramaticEmotionalInsightful
It is the dawn of Senegal's independence from France, but as the citizens celebrate in the streets we soon become aware that only the faces have changed. White money still controls the government. One official, Aboucader Beye, known by the title "El Hadji," takes ... (more)
It is the dawn of Senegal's independence from France, but as the citizens celebrate in the streets we soon become aware that only the faces have changed. White money still controls the government. One official, Aboucader Beye, known by the title "El Hadji," takes ... (more)
Marseille après la guerre (2023)
The film uses a collection of post-World War II black & white photographs to portray the dockworkers of Marseilles, many of whom were of African descent. Set in and around a 1947 strike protesting weapons shipments to the French in Indochina, the images evoke the ... (more)
The film uses a collection of post-World War II black & white photographs to portray the dockworkers of Marseilles, many of whom were of African descent. Set in and around a 1947 strike protesting weapons shipments to the French in Indochina, the images evoke the ... (more)
Sembene! (2015)
Meet Ousmane Sembene, the African freedom fighter who used stories as his weapon. (more)
Meet Ousmane Sembene, the African freedom fighter who used stories as his weapon. (more)
Tahar Chériaa: A l'Ombre du Baobab (2014)
Portrait of Tahar Chériaa. Founder of the first african cinefestival and father of panafricanism. (more)
Portrait of Tahar Chériaa. Founder of the first african cinefestival and father of panafricanism. (more)
The Wagoner
(1963)
A cart-taxi driver goes to the city to make a living, but out of sympathy with other poverty-stricken people, he works for free and goes hungry himself. (more)
A cart-taxi driver goes to the city to make a living, but out of sympathy with other poverty-stricken people, he works for free and goes hungry himself. (more)
Niaye
(1964)
The pregnancy of a young girl scandalizes her community. (more)
The pregnancy of a young girl scandalizes her community. (more)
Behind the Scenes: The Making of Ceddo
(1981)
Paulin Vieyra captures Ousmane Sembène, one of the greatest filmmakers of Africa, during the filming of Ceddo. L’Envers du Decor was completed after four years of production. As for Ceddo, it would be censored under the Senghor regime and until 1983 by the ... (more)
Paulin Vieyra captures Ousmane Sembène, one of the greatest filmmakers of Africa, during the filming of Ceddo. L’Envers du Decor was completed after four years of production. As for Ceddo, it would be censored under the Senghor regime and until 1983 by the ... (more)
Sembène: The Making of African Cinema (1994)
Senegalese documentary about the country's most famous film-maker - Ousmane Sembène. The groundbreaking director explains his philosophy, politics and hopes for the future of African cinema. (more)
Senegalese documentary about the country's most famous film-maker - Ousmane Sembène. The groundbreaking director explains his philosophy, politics and hopes for the future of African cinema. (more)
Black Girl
(1966)
Eager to find a better life abroad, a Senegalese woman becomes a mere governess to a family in southern France, suffering from discrimination and marginalization. (more)
Eager to find a better life abroad, a Senegalese woman becomes a mere governess to a family in southern France, suffering from discrimination and marginalization. (more)
Mandabi
(1968)
A money order from a relative in Paris throws the life of a Senegalese family man out of order. He deals with corruption, greed, problematic family members, the locals and the changing from his traditional way of living to a more modern one. (more)
A money order from a relative in Paris throws the life of a Senegalese family man out of order. He deals with corruption, greed, problematic family members, the locals and the changing from his traditional way of living to a more modern one. (more)