Review of Timbuktu (2014) by Fernando G — 16 Jan 2015

12 September 2014 review of Timbuktu at the Toronto International Film Festival.

What I thought of this movie before seeing it.

I expect this film will have gorgeous cinematography with an engaging story about people living ordinary lives in the culture they inhabit, caught up in religious fundamentalism that changes the simple course of their everyday routine. It may be presented as a work of fiction, but I'm sure the story it will tell unfortunately has some truth to it.

What I thought of the movie after seeing it.

I became engrossed in Timbuktu immediately. Abderrahmane Sissako pulls us into the love story of Kidane; cattle herder, devoted husband to Satima (Toulou Kiki) and Father, as the community he lives in is taken over by Islamic fundamentalists. Under the new rule of the invading, armed fighters, music, laughter and sports are not allowed. The slightest offences are met with harsh verdicts from courts with their interpretation of justice. When Kidane, played by Ibrahim Ahmed, commits a crime of passion he is subject to judgement delivered by the armed occupiers.

The ensemble cast of villagers is convincing as they negotiate and navigate each unforseen encounter with the jihadists, proudly defending the right to their way of life despite the manacing presence of an unfamiliar, new order.

In a memorable scene, one of the jihadists goes to a woman to ask for her daughter 'the right way'. When the girl's Mother protests, stating that she does not know this man and will not hand her child over to him, his response is to simply say that he will come back for his conquest 'the wrong way.' The tension of the conversation between the family, the rejected soldier and interpreters is conveyed with implied violence that is more effective than the discharge of a gun.

I don't want to give anything away with my review. See Timbuktu and experience what it must be like to wake up one day, and realize that the world has been turned upside down... and you, vulnerable and defenseless, have to figure out what the hell is going on, and how to survive it.