- Guimba the Tyrant
Infobox Film
name = Guimba the Tyrant
caption = "Guimba" DVD cover
director =Cheick Oumar Sissoko
producer =Idrissa Ouedraogo Sophie Salbot (executive producer )
writer =Cheick Oumar Sissoko
starring =Fatoumata Coulibaly Habibou Dembele Lamine Diallo Maimouna Hélène Diarra Balla Moussa Keita Cheick Oumar Maiga Mouneissa Maiga Fabola Issa Traoré
music =Michel Risse Pierre Sauvageot
cinematography =Lionel Cousin
editing =Kahéna Attia Joëlle Dufour
distributor =Kora Films
released = 1995
runtime = 93 mins
country =Mali France Germany
language = Bambara
Fula
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0113233Guimba the Tyrant (French: Guimba, un tyrant, une époque) is a
1995 Mali an comedy drama film in theBambara language (with someFula language components), directed by noted Malian directorCheick Oumar Sissoko . The movie shows the rise and fall of a cruel and despotic village chief "Guimba", and his son "Jangine" in a fictional village in theSahel of Mali. Some of the storytelling was done through the medium of the villagegriot , and with the film being placed in an old setting, lends an epic touch to the movie. The exact chronological setting of the movie is difficult to ascertain, being set in an isolated village, but the commonly used weaponry shown is theblunderbuss . The film depicts some magical components, including asolar eclipse brought on by magic. Casting was only partially done from among professional actors.The film has well designed, colorful and exotic props, costumes and sets. It has evoked mixed responses from critics, while being lauded for its visual beauty. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/01/17/DD47288.DTL Review] in the
San Francisco Chronicle ] [ [http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?_r=1&title1=GUIMBA%20%28MOVIE%29&title2=&reviewer=JANET%20MASLIN%20&pdate=19951007&v_id=134821&oref=slogin Review] in theNY Times ]Slapstick comedy is present throughout the movie, as is comedy through the actions of the griot. Thescreenplay also contains numerous interesting Africanadage s. The movie soundtrack contains music sung in old dialects using ancient instruments.Some critics have founds elements of
political satire in the film, due to director Oumar Sissoko's resistance to Malian dictatorMoussa Traore . [ [http://www.citypages.com/databank/19/928/article6007.asp Review] in the City Pages]Awards
* Grand prize,
FESPACO (Pan African Film Festival ofOuagadougou ) - 1995Plot
The film opens with a village griot reciting the story of "Guimba" the tyrant, of the "Dunbuya" family. The setting moves to an old Malian village ruled by the evil and tyrannical leader Guimba and his dwarf son Janguine. Janguine has been betrothed from childhood to the village beauty Kani from the "Diarra" family - the other powerful family in the village. Janguine, however, has his eyes on Kani's well-endowed mother Meya, and hence Guimba offers to marry Kani, asking Kani's father for a divorce so that Janguine can marry Meya. When he refuses, he is banished from the village. Protests break out, leading to the killings, and subjugation.
As the village gets embroiled in a
civil war , Kani manages to escape to her father's camp on horseback with Guimba unsuccessfully giving chase. Guimba's slave is also welcomed into the rebel camp. She is dressed up provocatively and sent back to the village, causing both Guimba and Janguine to fall for her. Guimba kills his son over her, and chases her out of the village and into a trap - leading to his downfall.Reviews
External links
*imdb title|0113233
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