CIFF 2014: Timbuktu Review

Overall Rating

6.0

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A family of cattle herders living outside a West African city strives to maintain their quality of life amidst the presence of jihadists imposing their laws on the people of Timbuktu.

Director Abderrahmane Sissako (“Bamako”) examines an especially relevant world issue here with admirable humanity. Extremists are exposed as manipulators and intimidators, but Sissako stops short of caricature. The resilience of strong women is particularly highlighted, and while the dramatic crescendo failed to fully compel me, many sequences, such as an illegal youth soccer game played with an imaginary ball, are achieved with great poignancy.

6 out of 10 points

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Language

French, Arabic, Bambara, English, Songhay

Runtime

1 hr. 37 min.

Genre

Drama

Director

Abderrahmane Sissako

Cast

Ibrahim Ahmed, Toulou Kiki, Abel Jafri, Fatoumata Diawara, Hichem Yacoubi, Kettly Noël, Mehdi A.G. Mohamed, Layla Walet Mohamed, Adel Mahmoud Cherif, Salem Dendou

About the Author

Taylor Sinople

Taylor is a Chicago-based writer and aspiring film historian. He is the editor here at TFP, and has contributed to a number of international publications such as Cinema Scandinavia, PopMatters, and Room 101 Magazine. He can also be found listening to podcasts, researching topics he has little use for, or running after a city bus.

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6 out of 10 points

CIFF 2014: Winter Sleep Review

CIFF 2014: The Midnight After Review

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CIFF 2014: Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem

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CIFF 2014: Timbuktu Review

6 out of 10 points

CIFF 2014: Winter Sleep Review

CIFF 2014: The Midnight After Review

CIFF 2014: The Circle Review

CIFF 2014: Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem

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