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Life on Earth (1998)

Director: Abderrahmane Sissako

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From Time Out Film Guide

A rejoinder to the West's millennial hysteria, this beautiful feature debut follows writer/director Sissako from France to his father's Malian hometown, where the locals observe the developed world's excitement over the changing of the digits, relayed over the radio, with a casual interest while life goes on otherwise as normal. The film is quietly contemplative, overlaying scenes of apparently relaxed rural habitude with Sissako's occasional voice-over musing on the fate and fears of post-colonial Africa. Dramatic it ain't, the postmaster's mixed fortunes with the town's telephone being the nearest thing to a narrative motif. Among others the film quotes the Martinique writer Aimé Césaire, while simultaneously celebrating the gentle rhythms and colours of the present, typified by Anouar Brahem's delightful music.

Author: NB 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Abderrahmane Sissako

Producer: Pierre Chevalier, Caroline Benjo, Carole Scotta, Barbara Letellier, Simon Arnal

Cast: Abderrahmane Sissako, Nana Baby, Mohamed Sissako, Bourama Coulibaly, Keita Bina Gaoussou, Mahamadou Drame full cast

Duration: 61 mins

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