In faat kine, ousmane sembene, the unquestioned father of african cinema, calls his fellow africans to a reckoning of the postindependence era at the beginning. Faat kine film still, 2001 t he blackgirl of sembene ousmanes first film. At 77, he sums up 40 years of pathbreaking filmmaking with a penetrating analysis of. In your essay, please use specific examples from the film and the book that. Language english pages 252 format paperback publisher. Against this backdrop, faat kine stands out as the most hopeful, the most restorative, and the. Ousmane sembene and the politics of culture by lifongo j. Ousmane sembene 1 january 1923 9 june 2007, often credited in the french style as sembene ousmane in articles and reference works, was a senegalese film director, producer and writer. Ousmane sembene is often referred to as the feminist. Seeing as senegal used to be a colony, his films that ive seen deal with the aftermath of independence, the struggle for cultural identity, etc.
Ousmane sembene and the politics of culture lifongo j. Stuart klawans interview with ousmane sembene, senegalese director, whose latest film, faatkine, will be shown at film forum along with ninefilm sembene retrospective. In faat kine, ousmane sembene, the unquestioned father of african cinema, calls his fellow africans to a reckoning of the postindependence era at the. Prior to entering the arts, sembene worked as a fisherman, did a stint in the french army, and worked on the construction of the dakarniger railway where he took part in the great strike that inspired. At 77, he sums up 40 years of pathbreaking filmmaking with a penetrating analysis of the interplay of gender, economics and power in todays africa. After fighting with the french in the second world. Sembene ousmane primary author only author division. Faat kine retraces the complex and thrilling urban social life of a senegalese. Battling racism, censorship and language barriers, he transformed senegals and africas cultural output. Cast and crew credits for faatkine, 2001, directed by ousmane sembene, with venus seye, boubacar omar payane, mame ndumbie diop, at turner classic movies. Ousmane sembene, venus seye, ndiagne dia, mariama balde, awa sene sarr, tabata ndiaye, ousmane sembene. Exposed to marxism, he participated in railroad strikes and trade union movements.
Sembene ousmane is currently considered a single author. Discourse, politics, and culture, for course adoption. There are no discussion questions for chapter 1, which is an introductory chapter. Faatkine is the welcome return of the master senegalese filmmaker ousmane sembene, with his first film in nearly 20 years.
Gods bits of wood by sembene ousmane 20080811 jan 1, 1859. Ousmane sembene and the politics of culture after the empire. Based on his novel of the same name and shot in color in two language versionsfrench and wolof, the main dialect of senegalthe money order is a trenchant and often delightfully witty satire of the new bourgeoisie, torn between outmoded. Ousmane sembene is often referred to as the feminist leader in african cinema, and through his multiple films he exemplifies creating environments where women succeed just as men. In 1948, he left for france, where he worked as a longshoreman and helped to organize the african dock workers in marseille. He joined the french army during world war ii and moved from senegal to france in 1948. Aaas community extension center, 905 mount vernon avenue.
Faat kine is a 2000 senegalese film written and directed by ousmane sembene, set in presentday dakar, senegal. Faat kine is shown poring over the books in her office or measuring. Known for urban themes and complex female protagonists, sembenes movies, both in french and in his native language wolof, are. Overview of faatkine, 2001, directed by ousmane sembene, with venus seye, boubacar omar payane, mame ndumbie diop, at turner classic movies.
Faat kine brings the viewer face to face with politically, economically, and morally corrupt social fabric. Sembenes gods bits of wood by augustine uka nwanyanwu an onomastic reading of ousmane sembenes faat kine by mouhamedoul a niang transformal aesthetics and cultural impact on ousmane sembenes xala by. He left school at 15 and after being drafted into the french army in 1939, joined the free french forces in 1942, accompanying them to liberated france in 1944. It gives a clear glimpse into life of the senegalaise middleclass and presents presentday dakar in all of its contradictions of poverty and wealth, tradition and modernity. Sembenes subsequent filmsincluding black girl, mandabi, xala, ceddo, faat kine, and moolaadeaddress contemporary african society and cultural issues with the filmmakers characteristic wit and subtle satire. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. It provides a critical look at modern, postcolonial senegal and the place of women in that society. His oeuvre consists of seven novels, a short story collection and eleven films made over a period spanning close to half a century you would be hardpressed to find another african artist with a. The problem when i was writing books was that i was. The first film director from an african country to achieve international recognition, ousmane sembene remains the major figure in the. Within the film faat kine, sembene creates a world where a woman is successful defying the societal expectations. Its an exuberant movie, full of laughter, wit and sexual highjinks, by the. In faat kine, directed ousmane sembene, calls his fellow africans to a reckoning of the postindependence era at the beginning of a new century. Undoubtedly one of africas most influential first generation of writers and filmmakers, ousmane sembenes creative works of fiction as well as his films have been the subject of a considerable number of scholarly articles.
Faat kine is by legendary senegalese filmmaker ousmane sembene, who directed one of the other senegalese films i saw, mandabi. The schemas of reading applied to sembenes oeuvre novels, short stories and films have, in the main, focused either on his militant posture against colonialism, his. With venus seye, mame ndoumbe, ndiagne dia, mariama balde. In faat kine, ousmane sembene, the unquestioned father of african cinema, calls his fellow africans to a reckoning of the postindependence era at the beginning of a new century. The novel is set in preindependence senegal and follows the struggles of the african trainworkers in three cities as they go on strike against their french employers in an effort for equal benefits and compensation. Facing history, migration and trauma in black girl by lyell davis language, racial difference and dialogic consciousness. The senegalese filmmaker and writer ousmane sembene, who died on june 9, 2007, was a crucial figure in africas postcolonial cultural awakening. The schemas of reading applied to sembenes oeuvre novels. Sembene would close the century with two films devoted to the struggle of african women. He studied at the school of ceramics at marsassoum and then moved to dakar, where he worked as a bricklayer. Like borom sarret, black girl, the money order, and xala, ousmane sembene s latest release is another chapter in the writerdirectors lasersharp commentary of postindependence in senegal.