Sembene!

Sembene! is a look at the life and career of Ousman Sembene, the first sub-Saharan African to direct feature films. The movie is co-directed and narrated by Samba Gadjigo, an American based professor from Senegal who ended up becoming one of Sembene's closest confidantes. As a result of their closeness, the movie ends being as much about their friendship as it is about the man himself, but that is not a bad thing. This approach gives Sembene a humanity that is often absent from documentaries about directors. Gadjigo also present a well rounded picture of the man and does not shy from some of his qualities that lost him some friends and followers. Judicious use of film clips of not only his movies, but also archival footage of Senegal and interviews with Sembene help make this a very enjoyable look at a master of world cinema that many people are unaware of.

Sembene! is a look at the life and career of Ousman Sembene, the first sub-Saharan African to direct feature films. The movie is co-directed and narrated by Samba Gadjigo, an American based professor from Senegal who ended up becoming one of Sembene's closest confidantes. As a result of their closeness, the movie ends being as much about their friendship as it is about the man himself, but that is not a bad thing. This approach gives Sembene a humanity that is often absent from documentaries about directors. Gadjigo also present a well rounded picture of the man and does not shy from some of his qualities that lost him some friends and followers. Judicious use of film clips of not only his movies, but also archival footage of Senegal and interviews with Sembene help make this a very enjoyable look at a master of world cinema that many people are unaware of.