MOOLAADE

Senegal, 2004, 120 minutes, Colour.
Fatoumata Coulibaly.
Directed by Sembene Ousmane.

Ousmane Sambene, from Senegal, is a veteran of sub-Saharan film-making. He can tell an excellent story as he does here. But, he is also a director with a mission.

He invites his audience into a village, showing us around, showing the details of ordinary life, of the routines. It is a patriarchal village. It is an Islamic village.

Then we are alerted to his key theme: the barbarity of young girls being submitted to female circumcision. One of the strong women of the village takes a stance against the practice. The Koran is invoked and explanations given that this is not Muslim tradition. Some of the girls refuse to be cut and an equivalent of sanctuary, Moolaade (Protection) is invoked.

The drama is in the conflict of stances, the cruel whipping of the protesting mother, the confiscation of all radios from the women and the radio burning in the square, the question of whether television should be allowed and the perennial issues of arranged marriages and the sanctifying of the whim of the head men.

Obviously this is a didactic tale but one that needs to be told.

1. The impact of the film for Senegalese audience? African audiences? Worldwide? Drama, issues?

2. The Senegalese setting, the opening and the scenes in the village, the accurate detail of daily life in the village? The homes, the women cleaning and washing, the men going to meetings, walking around? The mosque in the centre of the village, its striking architecture? Mercenaire and his stall and sales? The surrounding countryside? An authentic feel of a Senegalese village? Musical score?

3. The issues presented, the tradition of Islam, the interpretation of Islam? The patriarchal management of the village? Decisions? The issues of women's circumcision, seen as mutilation, seen as necessary ritual? The place of modernity in the village, radios, television? The role of women, obeying, being punished for disobedience? A challenge at the beginning of the 21st century?

4. The title, the indication of ritual protection for those who call on it, for the young girls not wanting to be circumcised? Colle and her invoking it? Her having the power to revoke it? Her standing fast, influence on the women, her being whipped? The final confrontation?

5. The women in the village, Colle and her leadership, coming from a neighbouring tribe and the men showing disdain? Her relationship with her husband, the day-by-day life, sexuality, obedience - his loving her, being pressurised by his brother to whip her? Her influence on the other women, calling them together, taking stances, calling for Protection? Her personality, the details of life in the village, the visit of the man back from France, with her daughter, with the other women? The aftermath of the confrontation with the men, the sitting in the circle, her influence, the grief of the women at her being whipped? Her husband finally standing by her stance? Leading the confrontation with the women who did the circumcision? The future of the women?

6. The portrait of the other women in the village, their own traditions, their own experience, their not wanting this experience for their daughters? Their standing by Colle? Their grief, the treatment by the men?

7. The ritual, every seven years, the girls going off into the bush, the women dressed in red, the procession? The danger of the cutting, the death of the little girl? The girls and their refusal?

8. The leader of the village, his harsh stances, not wanting any opposition, especially from the women? The punishment of collecting the radios - leaving them in the square in the heap, ultimately burning them? His influence on his brother, influence on the other chiefs, on the other men? His attendant and his vicious attitude towards Colle? The father of the man returning from France and his threatening to disown him?

9. Mercenaire, his explanation of his experience in the United Nations peacekeeping forces, his expose of corruption, his being imprisoned? His return, his market, his goods, his treatment of the people - his philosophy about globalisation, higher prices? Giving money for the sweets?

10. The man who had been to France, his suit and tie, the television, the clashes in the village, the promised marriage, his saying it was none of his father's business, his own choice for a wife? Her not wanting to be circumcised? His discussions with Mercenaire, paying his father's debts, the debts for the wedding? The discussion with Mercenaire about his life? His ultimately taking a stand against his father and the chiefs?

11. The treatment of the women, the whipping of Colle, the women treating her afterwards? Mercenaire and his stepping in to stop the whipping, their ordering him out of the town, pursuing him with painted faces, the information about his death?

12. The Muslim rituals, the men going to the mosque? The women and their attitudes towards the traditions? Their prayer, blessings, especially for the man returning from France and all that he had done for the village?

13. The girls, their learning from their mothers, the traditions, their taking a stance against the traditions?

14. The collection of the knives, the presentation of the knives to the chief, the burning of the knives?

15. The film as didactic, necessary because of the issues, the controversies in Africa? Islam and its being interpreted for the 21st century world? For African traditions, for a modernising and developing Africa?