Tim­buk­tu

The Malian city of Timbuktu, shrouded in myth, is being taken over by jihadists who want to impose their ideas of life on the Muslim population through violence and intimidation. The population has long lived according to the rules of the Koran and is suddenly faced with rules that have nothing to do with their faith. Abderrahmane Sissako deliberately does not portray his religious extremists as bad guys; rather, they are a motley crew of fanatics, incapable of coping with everyday life and full of contradictions. They come from everywhere and sometimes have trouble understanding one another - they obviously do not all speak the same language, many do not even understand Arabic. The people of Timbuktu cannot understand why they should no longer smoke, play music or play football, why even the fish seller at the market has to wear gloves. One of the highlights of this light-hearted film about the tragedy of religious fundamentalism is a soccer match without a ball. Sissako tells the story brilliantly in breathtaking images and with a gentleness that really highlights the drama he is observing. He originally wanted to create a documentary essay about the spread of Islamic fundamentalism in the area of the Malian city of Timbuktu, but after witnessing the stoning of an adulterous couple by extremists on site, he decided to make a feature film. No black-and-white painting, as some film journalists would have liked in Cannes, but instead a reflection full of poetry that he contrasts with the sheer and mindless violence. The film journalists were enthusiastic. Rightly so, it seems to us.
Director: Abderrahmane Sissako
Film genre: Drama
Admission age / Recommended age: 12 (14)
Country of production: Mali (2014)
Duration: 100'
Cast: Pino Desperado