Timbuktu
Timbuktu

Movie spotlight

Timbuktu

2014
Movie
96 min
French

Just outside of the Malian city of Timbuktu, now occupied by militant Islamic rebels who impose the Sharia on civilians and inconvenience their daily life, a cattleman kills a fisherman.

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes97%
Metacritic90
Google Users91%
Director: Abderrahmane SissakoGenres: Drama, Crime

Plot Summary

In Timbuktu, Mali, the city and its surroundings are under the control of Islamist fundamentalists. The film follows the life of Kidane, a humble cattle herder, and his family as they navigate the oppressive new regime. Their peaceful existence is shattered when a confrontation over a prized bull leads to tragic consequences, forcing Kidane to stand against the occupying forces.

Critical Reception

Timbuktu received widespread critical acclaim for its powerful storytelling, stunning visuals, and nuanced portrayal of life under occupation. Critics praised its ability to humanize its characters while condemning the destructive nature of extremism, making it a significant and moving cinematic achievement.

What Reviewers Say

  • A visually stunning and deeply affecting film that offers a compassionate look at life under extremist rule.

  • Masterfully balances the personal tragedies of its characters with a broader condemnation of fundamentalism.

  • Praised for its poetic and humanist approach to a politically charged subject.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's emotional depth, beautiful cinematography, and its impactful message against extremism. Many Google users found it to be a thought-provoking and important film that effectively conveyed the human cost of conflict and oppression.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; Won the César Award for Best Film; Won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at Cannes Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location in Mauritania, with many of the extras being locals who had experienced similar circumstances to those depicted in the film.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
griggs79

griggs79

TMDb lists _Timbuktu_ as a French film — a legacy of TMDb’s rigid, funding-based categorisation system. But that’s a bureaucratic fiction. _Timbuktu_ was shot in Mauritania, directed by a Mauritanian (Abderrahmane Sissako), and submitted by...

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Not being a man of any religiosity at all, the effects seems to me all the more potent when a group of Jihadists arrive in this town and start to impose Sharia law. Now I don't wish to get all political here, but what we see for the next ni...