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A vibrant, powerful, and poignant glimpse into the struggles of women in modern Africa. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

For fear of enduring genital mutilation, a group of girls flee their own "purification" ceremony and take refuge with Collé (Fatoumata Coulibaly), a woman who had spared her daughter from the same fate. Collé casts a spell to protect the girls, which causes much consternation among among the village elders. In retaliation, they confiscate all radios from the women villagers and demand that the spell be broken, but Collé nevertheless holds fast.
  • Genre:
    drama
  • Original Language:
    Bambara
  • Director:
    Ousmane Sembene
  • Writer:
    Ousmane Sembene
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $214.6K
  • Runtime:

Cast & Crew

Fatoumata Coulibaly
Collé Gallo Ardo Sy
Maimouna Hélène Diarra
Hadjatou
Salimata Traoré
Amasatou
Aminata Dao
Alima Bâ
Ousmane Sembene
Director
Ousmane Sembene
Writer

News & Interviews for Moolaadé

National Society of Film Critics Adopts Eastwood’s “Baby”
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Critic Reviews for Moolaadé

All Critics (74) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (1)

  • 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.

    October 22, 2007 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader

  • 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.

    October 30, 2006

    Kirk Honeycutt

    Hollywood Reporter

  • This is an impassioned and uplifting film.

    June 24, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out

  • Poetic, provocative and unstoppably powerful. But, depressingly, it probably won't change a thing.

    April 1, 2006 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    David Parkinson

    Empire Magazine

  • 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.

    September 26, 2005

    Keith Phipps

    AV Club

  • 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.

    July 21, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

    Richard Nilsen

    Arizona Republic
View All Critic Reviews (74)

Audience Reviews for Moolaadé

  • Nov 24, 2016
    Ousmane Sambène makes a daring and important statement against female genital mutilation and speaks for the necessity of change and modernization. Full review on filmotrope. com
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 27, 2012
    Disturbing and moving story of a minor womens' lib moment...one that protects young girls from circumcision in a great movie about this unfortunate practice.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 04, 2009
    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. A movie which is a must for every lover of African cinematography.
    Panta O Super Reviewer
  • Mar 06, 2008
    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 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.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
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