Timbuktu (2014)
Cast includes: Ibrahim Ahmed, Abel Jafri (The Passion of the Christ), Toulou Kiki
Writer/Director: Abderrahmane Sissako (Waiting for Happiness, Bamako)
Genre: Drama (97 minutes) Arabic, French, English and Koyra Chiini with subtitles
Life has hardly changed in the Timbuktu region of Mali for thousands of years. Issan brings cows to the river to drink, as others have done for generations… being careful not to get too close to Amadou’s fishing nets. In such an arid land, the ecosystem is so delicate that it takes very little to disrupt the balance. The Islamic jihadists have plenty of firepower, but they don’t need to waste machine gun bullets to kill a gazelle. All they need to do is chase it in their truck until they tire it out. The jihadists with their familiar black flag, machine guns, sharia laws and Arabic language are newcomers to the community. Even though there aren’t that many of them, they have certainly made their presence felt. They regularly use a megaphone to make public announcements in the town streets… “Smoking is forbidden. Music is forbidden. Women are forbidden from going outside without socks and gloves.” The town elder tries to reason with Abdelkerim, the jihadi leader. “Where is God in this?” But his determination to impose sharia law is unflinching. “God almighty knows everything.”
The woman selling fish draws the line at wearing gloves. “First they made us wear the veil, then socks. How can I sell fish wearing gloves?” Kidane and his family still live far from town in hopes of being able to live the way they want. But somehow the jihadists always seem to come around whenever Kidane is away. Satima, Kidane’s wife can’t even wash her hair out side the tent without being told to cover her head. “You don’t need to look if it offends you.” Back in town, jihadi soldiers hear music coming from somewhere. They go street by street, house by house until the find the source. But sometimes applying sharia law is complicated. They call Abdelkerim on the cell phone… “They’re singing praise of the Lord. Should I arrest them?”
“Football is forbidden.” Young boys secretly play football with an imaginary ball, but even that is forbidden. In fact, joy of any kind is forbidden, and one gets the impression that before the jihadists came, joy was part of life in this land. Not that life was ever easy, but little things like music, football or love of family could make life in this harsh environment bearable. Timbuktu the film is as delicate as the ecosystem in Timbuktu the region. For much of the film, we don’t even realize it has a plot. We simply watch a various seemingly unrelated events unfold. But eventually, we realize how profound the effect has become. In an interrelated ecology, any little change can have a serious impact. But these new Arabic speaking men are a lethal invasive species, overturning longstanding traditions and social order. Timbuktu is deceptively simple as it unfolds, but by the end, it may well take your breath away.
3 popped kernels
Islamic jihadi come to a remote African region and impose sharia law
Popcorn Profile
Rated: PG-13
Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Style: Sensitive
Distribution: Art House
Mood: Sober
Tempo: In No Hurry
Visual Style: Unvarnished Realism
Nutshell: Sharia law in West Africa
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Timely Topic & Thought Provoking
