Mandabi
Mandabi (French: Le Mandat, "The Money Order") is a 1968 film written and directed by Ousmane Sembène. The film is based on Sembène's novel The Money-Order. It is the director's first film in his native Wolof language. Since most of the Senegalese population did not understand French, Sembène wanted to create cinema for Wolof speakers. This is the first full-length African language film from West Africa.[1]
| Mandabi | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) French poster | |
| Directed by | Ousmane Sembène |
| Produced by | Ousmane Sembène |
| Written by | Ousmane Sembène |
| Starring | Makhourédia Guèye Ynousse N'Diaye Isseu Niang |
| Cinematography | Paul Soulignac |
| Edited by | Gilou Kikoïne Max Saldinger |
| Distributed by | New Yorker Video |
Release date | 1968 |
| Country | France Senegal |
| Language | Wolof French |
Plot
An 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 250 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, a Senegalese businessman, 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.
Accolades
- 29th Venice International Film Festival: Special Jury Prize[2][3][4]
- Soviet Directors Prize from the 1968 Tashkent Film Festival of African and Asian Cinema[5]
See also
References
- 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.
- Gadjigo, Samba (April 11, 2007). "Ousmane Sembène: une conscience africaine : genèse d'un destin hors du commun". Homnisphères – 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.