Moolaadé

A free-thinking woman stands up against barbaric traditions and protects four girls from mutilation. This escalates into a series of power struggles that make for compelling (and moving) viewing. Well-constructed, with interesting characters fleshed out by good performances. The film takes a kind of Hollywood turn at the end, not in a way that cheapens it, but it just doesn't feel organic. However, given that the film is attempting to bring about social change, it may have been the best choice.

Strange, poor people there in Afrika, one can not believe what happens there every day. Women are considered as slaves. Sometimes I had to laugh of their funny way of talking. Incredible that they have to buy batteries every day for their radios.

This was such a perfect final movie for Sembene. One cannot help but be affected even more by the fantastic ending with the knowledge of his death.

No frills, just a good movie.

a strong statement against the torture treatment of female genital mutilation. often the most famous works of africa and the middle east employ social realism, but this is instead a beautiful pastel-coloured film of strong dialogue and complex power struggles. the ending was a bit optimistic given what preceded it, but it came off as activism, calling for action, rather than sentimental knot-tying, and if that can achieve something in reality, it's not all bad. rest of the film was fantastic.

Sembene completely creates a believable community from the ground up (something akin to Marquez's Macondo). That's the best thing about the film. However, it loses a bit of its greatness at the very end when it turns cliched.

Star Rating: ★★★★★

Great movie, fantastic ending.

An African film which tackles the very serious subject of female circumcision which grace and thought. One could argue that, because the director is clearly making a film against the practice, the ending after all that has passed is too simplistic for the complications he has brought up, but the work is still admirable.

"The strong tradition of the Senegalese people is felt in Moolaadé, but Sembene suggests that some traditions are meant to be broken." - Ed Gonzalez

A quietly powerful film, that celebrates woman and is moving and strangely joyful.

Expertly written and set in a gorgeous Burkinese village, to a fantastic musical soundtrack, with no budget to speak of. Sembene ends his filmography with a bang - Moolaadé is fiercely political and truly harrowing. I was moved to tears.

I've no doubt part of the reason I like this is because I'm sympathetic to the plight of the girls in danger of mutilation. What's interesting to me is how Sembene portrays the villains here--in as stark a way as possible. There is no way of seeing their point, but at the same time, they don't seem to be doing this just out of pure evil either. The way Colle stands up to the elders, the women rallying around her, and the songs that mark these lives are deeply powerful portraits of community.

very long winded but emotionaly affecting.