Moolaadé (2004)
Average Rating: 8.3/10
Reviews Counted: 73
Fresh: 72 | Rotten: 1
A vibrant, powerful, and poignant glimpse into the struggles of women in modern Africa.
Average Rating: 8.4/10
Critic Reviews: 28
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 0
A vibrant, powerful, and poignant glimpse into the struggles of women in modern Africa.
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Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 1,632
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Movie Info
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 clitoris 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
Cast
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Fatoumata Coulibaly
Colle Ardo Gallo Sy -
Maimouna Hélène Diarra
Hadjatou -
Salimata Traore
Amsatou -
Dominique T. Zeida
Mercenaire -
Mah Compaore
Doyenne des Exciseuses -
Aminata Dao
Alima Ba -
-
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All Critics (78) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (1) | DVD (4)
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.
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 debate in Africa.
This is an impassioned and uplifting film.
Top CriticIt'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.
A story told in music, vivid imagery and ritualistic movement.
A stirring vision of civil but pointed disobedience.
Thrilling and alive and far more entertaining and exciting and easy to watch than just about any message movie you have ever seen... a cinematic triumph of the highest order.
The eightysomething Sembene delivers a powerfully acted and colourfully shot polemic. A perceptive observation of daily life in an African village that celebrates female bravery and solidarity.
Poetic, provocative and unstoppably powerful. But, depressingly, it probably won't change a thing.
Every character is a symbol for Sembene to realize his humanistic visions in a folklore type of cinema.
Though Moolaadé doesn't shy away from the task of educating its viewers about the brutality of 'purification,' it works equally well as a tribute to righteous defiance wherever it surfaces.
Tthe most exuberant films ever made about female circumcision.
Solemnity rarely taints Sembéne's films; his anger and indignation are invariably tempered by his warmth, humour and generosity of spirit.
Sembene provides not only a fascinating glimpse into the culture of tropical Africa, but also a powerful account of the social turmoil which bubbles beneath the surface.
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January 10, 2005:
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Foreign Titles
- Moolaadé (DE)
- Moolaade (UK)
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[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]
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[font=Century Gothic]"Shake Hands with the Devil" is an emotionally, powerful documentary. This is absolutely necessary viewing.[/font]
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[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]
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[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]