We fall into our movie habits, and I wasn't particularly anticipating a film concerning genital mutilation; truth to tell, I kept putting it aside while choosing something which I thought would be more entertaining. Dumb me. Moolade is a stunning film in many ways--it takes about twenty minutes to get with the rhythms of another culture, and to figure out in which direction the plot is headed; but once you settle into the Senegalese village, and marvel at the village itself, and get to know several of the main characters, it's a fascinating and ultimately uplifting trip into a world few of us will ever experience first hand; it's also beautifully photographed, with dazzling color and a sense of place that is haunting.
Warning: this is not an action movie, nor is it a cheerer-upper or mindless entertainment. It is a thoughtful film with a human viewpoint about the possibility of freedom for any individual in any culture, as well as an memorable introduction to the cinema of Africa.
Warning: this is not an action movie, nor is it a cheerer-upper or mindless entertainment. It is a thoughtful film with a human viewpoint about the possibility of freedom for any individual in any culture, as well as an memorable introduction to the cinema of Africa.