Yeelen (Cisse,1987): BFI Southbank, NFT2, 8.40pm
This 35mm screening (also on July 3rd)) is part of the 'In the Black Fantastic' season at BFI Southbank. You can find the full details here.
Chicago Reader review:
Souleymane
Cisse's extraordinarily beautiful and mesmerizing fantasy (1987) is set
in the ancient Bambara culture of Mali (formerly French Sudan) long
before it was invaded by Morocco in the 16th century. A young man
(Issiaka Kane) sets out to discover the mysteries of nature (or komo, the
science of the gods) with the help of his mother and uncle, but his
jealous father contrives to prevent him from deciphering the elements of
the Bambara sacred rites and tries to kill him. Apart from creating a
dense and exciting universe that should make George Lucas green with
envy, Cisse has shot breathtaking images and accompanies his story with a
spare, hypnotic, percussive score. Sublimely mixing the matter-of-fact
with the uncanny, this wondrous work provides an ideal introduction to a
filmmaker who is, next to Ousmane Sembene, probably Africa's greatest
director.
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Here (and above) is an extract.
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