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Guelwaar

Play trailer Poster for Guelwaar Released Jan 6, 1995 1h 55m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
As funeral preparations begin for Pierre Henri "Guelwaar" Thioune (Thierno Ndiaye), rumor spreads that his death may have been an assassination in retaliation for his radical political beliefs and constant criticism of the current regime. When the heroic Guelwaar's cadaver is stolen, his Francophile son, Barthelemy (Ndiawar Diop), contacts the authorities. As Detective Gora (Omar Seck) begrudgingly investigates, he discovers that Guelwaar was a complicated man guilty of his own share of sins.

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker Sembne, with a tense restraint, evokes a dependent country that maintains its dignity through nationalist pomp and local pride, and portrays one long-suffering family that bears Senegal's burdens in microcosm. Apr 1, 2013 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Through Sembne's wry attention to detail, we observe a great many things about village life that would otherwise pass unnoticed. Rated: 3.5/5 May 24, 2003 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Alternately wise and very funny in its treatment of tribalism and in its grasp of neocolonial corruption. May 24, 2003 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Guelwaar's sharp indictments—whether primarily dramatic or comic—still sting, despite (or perhaps because of) their usual surface of even-toned social realism Mar 4, 2024 Full Review TV Guide The renowned Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene reconfirms his stature both as a master storyteller and a distinctively humanitarian artist. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 22, 2007 Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 A funny, articulate and moving satire on the state of modern Africa. May 24, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Rough and essential Senegalese document of aid and corruption brings drama and exposition to a snapshot of 1992's hope and despair. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Rough and essential Senegalese document of aid and corruption brings drama and exposition to a snapshot of 1992's hope and despair. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review walter m [font=Century Gothic]"Guelwaar" starts with Aloys(Mustapha Diop) informing his sister(Marie-Augustine Diatta) and mother(Mame Ndoumbe Diop) that his father, Pierre Henri Thioune(Thierno Ndiaye), a Catholic activist, aka Guelwaar, has died. His brother, Barthelemy(Ndiawar Diop), is taking care of the burial details which reach a snag when the body cannot be found at the morgue. He contacts Gora(Omar Seck), the local police chief, who tracks the body to the village of Baye Aly(Omar Gueye) where it was mistakenly buried in a Moslem cemetary.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]With "Guelwaar," Ousmane Sembene aims to show the state of chaos that his home country of Senegal is in by dramatizing how a minor bureaucratic mistake can quickly get out of hand.(Not to mention how silly religion is.) But in the end, he does have a great deal of hope that the people will find pride in themselves and not demean themselves by begging.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]And politicians being opportunistic bastards seem to be a universal phenomenon.[/font] [font=Century Gothic] [/font] Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Guelwaar

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Cast & Crew

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Ousmane Sembene

Director

Omar Seck

Gora

Ndiawar Diop

Barthelemy

Mame Ndoumbe Diop

Nogoy Marie Thioune

Isseu Niang

Helene

Mustapha Diop

Actor

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Guelwaar

Guelwaar (1992) Guelwaar (1992) Guelwaar (1992) Guelwaar (1992) Guelwaar (1992) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As funeral preparations begin for Pierre Henri "Guelwaar" Thioune (Thierno Ndiaye), rumor spreads that his death may have been an assassination in retaliation for his radical political beliefs and constant criticism of the current regime. When the heroic Guelwaar's cadaver is stolen, his Francophile son, Barthelemy (Ndiawar Diop), contacts the authorities. As Detective Gora (Omar Seck) begrudgingly investigates, he discovers that Guelwaar was a complicated man guilty of his own share of sins.
Director
Ousmane Sembene
Producer
Ousmane Sembene, Jacques Perrin
Screenwriter
Ousmane Sembene
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Production Co
Westdeutscher Rundfunk, France 3 Cinéma, Doomireew, Galatee Films, Channel IV, New Yorker Films
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 6, 1995, Wide
Runtime
1h 55m