Bamako

CinemaSerf7/10

May 21, 2026

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There's a bit of a sub-plot going on here between singer "Melé" (Aïssa Maiga) and her husband "Chaka" (Tiécoura Traoré) but the main thrust of this - interestingly carried out entirely in French - is a makeshift court hearing in their backyard in which an attempt is being made to hold to account some of the international agencies whom many believe are continuing to bleed Africa dry. In some nations, like Mali and Cameroon, almost 40% of their GDP is being paid in debt interest against a mere ten percent of that sum being spent on essential social and healthcare provision. This is a properly constituted entity, with a red-robed judge presiding over counsel for and against the arguments, and at times these discussions are compelling to listen to. It does generalise a little too much though and there are some fairly basic issues that it fails to address, not least because it really only relates to problems emanating from what was French colonial Africa, and it does tend to treat the entire continent as if the problems were consistent across the board which obviously they are not. It also avoids any sort of recognition of the post-independent warlording and corruption that ensued amongst those who inherited the mess from the departing Europeans and saw that as an opportunity to feather their own nests - and settle old grudges too. It quite vibrantly adopts the French courtroom trait of lawyers making speeches and statements rather than probing the witnesses, and it also shows up nicely their professional abilities to shroud the whole debate in a mystery of legal semantics that therefore thwart any chance of progress. When one woman produces a letter that appears to support her argument, the fact that she received it by mistake and sent it to the press seems more important than what it actually said. This story emphasizes quite effectively that at the end of the day it is the rule of law that can often be relied upon to serve the best interests of those with the most to gain - or preserve - at the expense of the vulnerable it is ostensibly there to protect. At times there is a little too much ranting from the dialogue, but there is even a mini-western in the middle with Danny Glover to, presumably, further illustrate just how valueless human life could be when considered against the vast riches of their lands. It's quite thought provoking, and though rough around the edges, is well worth a watch.