Bamako

Plot

Abderrahmane Sissako wrote and directed this offbeat, satiric comedy which imagines how the powers that be in the West might be forced to answer for the damage they've done in the Third World. Mele (Aissa Maiga) is an attractive Malian lounge singer married to Chaka (Tiecoura Traore), though their relationship is on the verge of collapse. In their eyes, the African continent isn't in much better shape than their marriage, and one day a makeshift courtroom appears in the courtyard near their shabby home. In the courtyard, a handful of powerful international organizations, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, are put on trial for their crippling effect on the African economy; as the evidence is presented which explains how these "friends" of Africa have saddled the nations with debts they can never repay, witnesses explain how these actions impact the daily lives of ordinary citizens, who pass through the trial as they go on with their days. Executive producer Danny Glover makes a cameo appearance in a "Cowboys and Indians" sequence which supposedly takes place in Timbuktu. Bamako (aka The Court) received its North American premiere at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Cast

• Aïssa Maïga - Melé
• Hélène Diarra - Saramba
• Tiecoura Tracore - Chaka
• Djénéba Koné - Chaka's Sister
• Habib Dembélé - Falaï

Hamadoun Kassogue - Journalist; Hameye Mahalmadane - President of the Tribunal; Aïssata Tall Sall - Prosecuting Lawyers; William Bourdon - Prosecuting Lawyers; Roland Rappaport - Defense Lawyers; Mamdou Konaté - Defense Lawyers; Mamadou Savadogo - Defense Lawyers; Mariam Cissé - Magistarte's Assistants; Alou Diarra - Magistarte's Assistants; Oumou Berthé Diakité - Magistarte's Assistants; Magma Gabriel Konate - Prosecutor; Youssouf Camara - Courtroom Usher; Aminata Traore; Salif Samaké - Policeman; Jean-Paul Boiré - Guard; Zegue Bamba - Witness; Aminata Dramane - Witnesses; Madou Keita - Witness; Georges Keita - Witness; Assa Badiallo Souko - Witness; Samba Diakite - Witness; Mamadou Lanssiné. Koné - Investigating Officer; Souleymane Diagouraga - Sick Man; Pasteur Ezekiel - Pastor; Andrew Mensah - Translator; Rokia Kouyaté - Itinerant Poet; Dahirou Togo - Nurse; N'Deye Sissoko - Female Announcer; Abdoulaye Coulibaly - Glasses Vendor; Mohamed 'Papa' Sissako - Children; N'to Makadji - Children; Oumou Sako - Children; Sanata Traoré - Children; Souleymane Tounkara - Children; Abdallah Sissako; Kouyaté. Abdoulaye; Baïssou Berthé; Basékou Koné; Beï Sissako; Bina Keita; Diakaridia Doumbia; Fatoumata Sissako; Fodé Tounkara; Hassane Soré; Issa Doumbia; Issa "Djess" Sacko; Jiddou Sissako; Lamine Camara; Mamou Kimbiry; Nana Coulibaly; Oussène Soré; Ramata Sissoko; Sali Kamaté; Danny Glover - Death In Timbuktu; Elia Suleiman - Death In Timbuktu; Jean-Henri Roger - Death In Timbuktu; Zeka Laplaine - Death In Timbuktu; Ferdinand Batsimba - Death In Timbuktu; Dramane Bassaro - Death In Timbuktu; Baba Tandina - Death In Timbuktu; Hassan Chérif - Death In Timbuktu; Hawa Traoré - Death In Timbuktu; Hawa Mamoudou - Death In Timbuktu; Touré - Death In Timbuktu

Credit

Mahamadou Kouyate - Art Director, Maji-da Abdi - Costume Designer, Philippe Tourret - First Assistant Director, Abderrahmane Sissako - Director, Nadia Ben Rachid - Editor, Danny Glover - Executive Producer, Joslyn Barnes - Executive Producer, Maji-da Abdi - Executive Producer, Dramane Traoré - Location Manager, Makhete Diallo - Camera Operator, Thomas Nikéma - Camera Operator, Abdourahmane Somé - Camera Operator, Mahamadou Kouyate - Production Designer, Jacques Besse - Cinematographer, Thomas Alfandari - Production Manager, Moctar Bå - Production Manager, Denis Freyd - Producer, Abderrahmane Sissako - Producer, Bruno Tarriere - Sound Mixer, Dana Farzanehpour - Sound/Sound Designer, Christophe Winding - Sound Editor, Dana Farzanehpour - Sound Recordist, Dramane Traoré - Unit Production Manager, Abderrahmane Sissako - Screenwriter, Pascal Laurent - Visual Effects Supervisor, Hassane Maoega - Gaffer, Bill Traore - Properties, Sophie Audier - Script Supervisor, Dominique Zeoeda - Second Assistant Director, Maji-da Abdi - Costume/Wardrobe, Caroline Tavernier - Costume/Wardrobe, Catherine "Kadhi" Lelièvre - Key Hairstylist, Soussaba Kouyaté - Key Make-up, Fatimétou Sissako - Production Accountant

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