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Fatoumata Coulibaly, Maimouna Hélène Diarra, Salimata Traore, Dominique T. Zeida, Mah Compaore ... see more see more... , Aminata Dao , Helene Diarra , Dominique Zeida

Pioneering Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene directed this controversial drama which deals in part with the barbaric practice of female genital mutilation (generally involving removal of the clitor... read more read more...is and temporary closure of the vagina), which is still practiced in a number of African nations in the name of "purification." Six girls who are scheduled to undergo the traditional purification ceremony escape, and four make their way to the home of Colle Ardo Gallo Sy (Fatoumata Coulibaly), a wife and mother who is sympathetic to their dilemma. Colle casts a "moolaade" spell, which will bring harm to anyone who attempts to hurt those under Colle's care. Colle finds few supporters in a village where tradition is sacred and change is regarded with great suspicion; the men who rule the tribe and the women who conduct the purification rituals both make their displeasure clear, but none can persuade Colle to vanquish the spell, which the others are obligated to respect. Meanwhile, Colle's daughter Amsatou (Salimata Traore) is facing a dilemma of her own. Amsatou has fallen in love with a young man who will one day inherit leadership of the tribe; a man who straddles traditional and modern life, he shuttles between an office job in Paris and the village of his birth. But, while he cares for Amsatou, her mother spared her from the purification ritual, and now she's uncertain if he will be willing to violate centuries of tribal tradition and wed a woman who is unclean in the eyes of his family. Moolaadé was awarded the Un Certain Regard prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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83% liked it

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Critics

99% liked it

72 critics

Unrated, 2 hr.

Directed by: Ousmane Sembene

Release Date: October 15, 2004

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DVD Release Date: December 11, 2007

Stats: 165 reviews

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Fatoumata Coulibaly in Moolaade (2005) "Moolaade" "Moolaade" "Moolaade" "Moolaade"
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Flixster Reviews (165)

  • gator681
    May 31, 2005
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]"Shake Hands with the Devil" is a documentary about Romeo Dallaire, who was the commander of the United Nations forces in 1994 in Rwanda as he tried unsuccessfully to prevent the genocide with an underfunded and undermanned mission. Dallaire, whose hands wer... read moree tied, still acted in the behavior and manner of a professional soldier while saving lives. Afterwards, he suffered mental anguish, by wondering if there was anything more he could have done. The lesson of the movie is that a life is worth saving no matter where they live and that we all have a responsibility to stop this.(And it may be happening again in the Darfur region of Sudan...) [/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"Shake Hands with the Devil" traces the origins of this genocide back to before 1960 when Rwanda was a colonial possession of Belgium and how those colonialist and racist attitudes fueled the racist hatred. Plus, it explains that this could have been stopped, not only by a better commitment to United Nations forces but also simply by the world's powers taking a stand.[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"Shake Hands with the Devil" is an emotionally, powerful documentary. This is absolutely necessary viewing.[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][color=red]"Moolaade" is a movie from Africa directed by Ousmene Sembene. Six young girls escape to avoid Purification(or to be much less delicate - genital mutilation). Four wind up going to Colle because they have heard that she prohibited her daughter from undergoing the ceremony, even though this was frowned upon by the village elders and might affect her daughter adversely. Colle invokes Moolaade(protection) for the girls. Colle has her reasons for being against the ceremony of Purification. She suffered through the ceremony. Her first two babies were born dead; the third lived but it was a messy affair.[/color][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][color=#ff0000][/color][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][color=#ff0000]"Moolaade" is an intelligent, thoughtful movie about gender roles set in an African village. The only major point against this movie is that it ended on a particularly false note.[/color][/font]
  • panta2
    August 4, 2009
    panta2
    A very unelegant subject is dealt in this movie elegantly... director Ousmane Sembene brings a story where the practice of female circumcision is everyday issue in a small village in Burkina Faso in such a way that the 2 h 4 min fly why we are drawn into the magic of his work.
    ... read more
    A movie which is a must for every lover of African cinematography.
  • fb20312798
    March 6, 2008
    fb20312798
    While the film could use some trimmimg, this may be one of the most important films to ever come out of Africa. It comfronts the terrible practice of circumcision on the young girls in a small village. A woman in the town takes a stand against this disgusting practice, that often... read more kills the girls, and she must contend with centuries of tradition and the hypocracy of the male leaders in the town. It is an interesting examination of a culture that is far different than our own. Not easy to watch, but it is a film that more people should see.
  • GringoTex
    August 14, 2009
    GringoTex
    My first Sembene film. He has such a deft, light, masterful touch. He can't be hurried or pressured to force anything, even when the subject is female mutilation. If he were in 1930s Hollywood, he would have made movies like Lubitsch.
  • IsaacMahomie
    May 4, 2009
    IsaacMahomie
    I fell asleep. Though topically interesting, it's quite boring. I suggest reading on the subject or hearing a lecture rather than watching this film.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
October 22, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

This masterwork by Ousmane Sembene, the 81-year-old father of African cinema and one of Senegal's greatest novelists, is the second film in a trilogy celebrating African women. Full Review

Kirk Honeycutt
October 30, 2006
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

Ousmane, who wrote and directs, gives strong flavors to his characterization of village life and its peoples. But as drama the film mostly serves to illustrate the two sides of this crucial social deb...

Richard Nilsen
July 21, 2005
Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

It's certainly clear where the director stands on the issue, but underneath is a far richer film about the complex issues of globalization and the values of tradition. Full Review

Susan Walker
April 15, 2005
Susan Walker, Toronto Star

A story told in music, vivid imagery and ritualistic movement. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
February 25, 2005
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

A stirring vision of civil but pointed disobedience. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
February 25, 2005
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

A protest movie made with warm affection for most of its characters.

Bob Longino
February 17, 2005
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

One of the strongest films ever to emerge from Africa. Full Review

Colin Covert
January 27, 2005
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

A rare feature-film glimpse into African traditions and culture, Moolaade is part colorful travelogue, part social criticism, but mostly human drama. Full Review

Chris Vognar
January 13, 2005
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

It's the work of a wise man who also happens to be a fine artist. Full Review

Jonathan Curiel
December 31, 2004
Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle

Moolaadé is not a 'downer' film as much as a parable that lets us see the hardships (and occasional humor) that are inherent in an environment where the slightest change in tradition is a cause for gr... Full Review

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