Sembene! is a 2015 documentary film focusing on the life of Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène, who is considered to be the father of African cinema. It is co-directed by Samba Gadjigo and Jason Silverman. The film's world premiere took place at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015.[1] It also played at the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.[2]
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Running time | 88 minutes |
Synopsis
editSembene! tells the story of the self-taught novelist and filmmaker Ousmane Sembène, provided by Gadjigo, who wrote Sembene's biography. Sembène transitioned from a laborer into a powerful spokesman for Africa.[3]
Critical response
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 91% based on 23 critics' reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10.[4]
Bilge Ebiri of Vulture included the film in a top ten list of films released in 2015, describing it as "a testament not just to the love of movies, but also to the power of movies."[5] Chaz Ebert, writing for RogerEbert.com, listed the film as her eighth favorite of the year, writing that "I could actually feel the director's passion for his filmmaking, and his respect for the people he filmed."[6]
References
edit- ^ Dave McNary. "'Sembene!' Bought by Kino Lorber - Variety". Variety.
- ^ Patrick Hipes. "'Sembene!', Docu About African Film Icon, Acquired By Kino Lorber – Cannes - Deadline". Deadline.
- ^ "Story". SEMBENE!.
- ^ "Sembene!". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Ebiri, Bilge (December 15, 2015). "Bilge Ebiri's Top 10 Movies of 2015". Vulture. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Ebert, Chaz (November 12, 2015). "Listening With My Heart: 16 Movies to Remember". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
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