Audience Member
In the interest of being forthcoming, I will admit that I have very little experience with African films, only having seen two of them prior to watching this one (thanks to a World Cinema course I took this semester). FAAT KINE is by legendary Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, who directed one of the other Senegalese films I saw, MANDABI. Seeing as Senegal used to be a colony, his films (that I've seen) deal with the aftermath of independence, the struggle for cultural identity, etc., although much more in MANDABI than FAAT KINE. While MANDABI lamented the loss of traditional Senegalese cultural attitudes and the lingering effects of colonialism in a post-colonial society, FAAT KINE displays a more mature and evolved perspective on what Senegalese society has become and can be. In no way is this more evident than its central character, Faat Kine, who is a self-made, unwed mother who refuses to let a man control or take advantage of her. The setup for the story is that her two children have just passed the Baccalaureate, and meanwhile, people (including her children) keep trying to set her up with a man. For all of the fuss being raised about the lack of good roles for women in Hollywood, Ousmane Sembene certainly didn't have that problem here. Even though the film over 15 years old, and originated in a majority-Muslim society, Kine is a much stronger, well-written female character than you will find in many Hollywood films. Although gender roles in a highly conservative, religious society is the primary focus, Sembene also finds the time to occasionally comment on politics, the colonial issue and, in a fashion similar to MANDABI, makes his most important points in the final scenes. Ultimately, what Sembene is trying to say is that the Senegal/Africa of his youth is gone and the people who cling to the past are foolish and undeserving of respect. What is valued now is an independent mindset along with a strong devotion to country, i.e., they can't keep living in the shadow of their colonial past and must embrace the hybrid culture which emerged from their independence as a nation. Hopefully I've read the film at least partially correctly. Aside from the messages and themes, I thought it was well-made on a technical level. The acting was a bit stiff at times, but I can't hold that against the film too much. Tonally, it was a rather deft blend of drama and comedy, along with some surprisingly suggestive dialogue at times. The only legitimate fault I can find is that maybe the film was a little too long, and they could have cut back on the flashbacks. Overall, I know this won't be to everyone's tastes, but for those adventurous few who enjoy foreign films this should prove to be a valuable cultural experience.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/22/23
Full Review
Audience Member
First and foremost, this is an outstanding portrait of a female character--strong, independent, and sacrificial. With a light, often comedic, touch that doesn't ignore certain serious realities about African (or any) life, Sembene presents a nuanced and thoroughly enjoyable portrait of Kine and those whose lives are inextricably linked with hers.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Not that these characters and their stories were not interesting, but as a cinematic experience, it felt pretty flat.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/23/23
Full Review
Audience Member
This foreign film is one of Ousmane Sembene's best films. He is a wonderful director. This is a literary film in that it requires a lot of thought and there is a lot of meaningful ideas/concepts revealed throughout the script's story. Very interesting film that focuses on feminism, family dynamics, respect of elders, single parenthood, and the debate between upholding tradition or following new traditions. This list could keep going. If you are interested in African culture, this is a very good film.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/17/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Good movie about feminism and the conflict of modern and traditional values. Could have been a stronger movie if not for the very slow pacing and dialogue, but it still sticks with you.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/08/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A single mom, in a machista country, seeing Dakar reality...kind of.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
Full Review
Read all reviews
>
