Bamako

About

Bamako is an unconventional political satire written and directed by Abderrahmane Sissako that imagines Western financial institutions being held accountable for the suffering they have caused in Africa. Set in a modest courtyard in Bamako, the film follows Mele, a nightclub singer, and her husband Chaka, whose troubled marriage mirrors the wider struggles facing the African continent. As residents carry on with their daily routines, a symbolic public trial unfolds nearby, where organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are accused of deepening Africa’s economic hardship through debt and exploitation. Through testimony and debate, the film connects global politics to the realities of ordinary lives. The film premiered in North America at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival and also features a cameo by Danny Glover.

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