Mandabi (French: Le Mandat, "The Money Order") is a 1968 film written and directed by Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène. The film is based on Sembène's novel The Money-Order and is the director's first film in his native Wolof language. Since most of the Senegalese population do not understand French, Sembène wanted to create cinema for Wolof speakers. This is believed to be the first full-length African language film from West Africa.[1]
| Mandabi | |
|---|---|
 French poster | |
| Directed by | Ousmane Sembène |
| Written by | Ousmane Sembène |
| Produced by | Ousmane Sembène |
| Starring | Makhourédia Guèye Ynousse N'Diaye Isseu Niang |
| Cinematography | Paul Soulignac |
| Edited by | Gilou Kikoïne Max Saldinger |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Countries | France Senegal |
| Languages | Wolof French |
Plot
editAn unemployed Senegalese Muslim, Ibrahima Dieng, lives with his two wives and seven children in Dakar. His nephew, Abdou, sends him a money order from Paris worth 25,000 francs, which he has saved from working as a street sweeper. Ibrahima is to keep some of the money for himself, save a portion for his nephew, and give a portion to his sister.
However, Ibrahima faces numerous difficulties trying to obtain the money order. Not having an ID, Ibrahima must go through several levels of Senegalese bureaucracy to try to get one, only to fail after spending money he does not have. Meanwhile, neighbors come over asking for money and Ibrahima is further indebted. In the end, he is swindled by Mbaye, his unscrupulous nephew, who promised to cash the money order for him. Mbaye sells Ibrahima's house to a French man and steals the money order, saying that he was pickpocketed. The film leaves Ibrahima in debt and without a home. The film explores themes of neocolonialism, religion, corruption, and relationships in Senegalese society.
Remastered print
editAfter the film had not been accessible to cinema audiences for years, it was remastered in 4K resolution and presented at the 2019 Lumière Festival in Lyon, France.[2] In June 2021, this remastered version was shown in cinemas in the United Kingdom. The Criterion Collection soon released the film on Blu-ray and DVD.[3]
Accolades
edit- 29th Venice International Film Festival 1968: Special Jury Prize[4][5][6]
- Soviet Directors Prize from the 1968 Tashkent Film Festival of African and Asian Cinema[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Pfaff, Francoise (1993). "The Uniqueness of Ousmane Sembène's Cinema". Contributions in Black Studies: A Journal of African and Afro-American Studies. 11: 13–19.
- ^ Aftab, Kaleem (9 June 2021). "Mandabi review: Wolof masterwork ripe for rediscovery". BFI. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
- ^ "Mandabi". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Gadjigo, Samba (April 11, 2007). Ousmane Sembène: une conscience africaine : genèse d'un destin hors du commun. Homnisphères. ISBN 9782915129243 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Hommage à Patrick G. Ilboudo". Regard. April 11, 1995 – via Google Books.
- ^ Bory, Jean-Louis; Cluny, Claude Michel (April 11, 1972). "Dossiers du cinéma: Cinéastes". Casterman – via Google Books.
- ^ Wakeman, John, ed. (1987). World Film Directors Volume II: 1945-1985. The H. W. Wilson Company. p. 1005. ISBN 0824207637. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
External links
edit- Mandabi at IMDb
- Mandabi: Paper Trail an essay by Tiana Reid at the Criterion Collection