Plot
Not far from the ancient Malian city of Timbuktu, proud cattle herder Kidane (Ibrahim Ahmed aka Pino) lives peacefully in the dunes with his wife Satima (Toulou Kiki), his daughter Toya (Layla Walet Mohamed), and Issan (Mehdi Ag Mohamed), their twelve-year-old shepherd. In town, the people suffer, powerless, from the regime of terror imposed by the Jihadists determined to control their faith. Music, laughter, cigarettes, even soccer have been banned. The women have become shadows but resist with dignity. Every day, the new improvised courts issue tragic and absurd sentences. Kidane and his family are being spared the chaos that prevails in Timbuktu. But their destiny changes abruptly.
Written by
Abderrahmane Sissako, Kessen Tall
Directed by
Abderrahmane Sissako
Crew
Production Countries
France, Mauritania
Production Companies
Canal+, Orange Studio, TV5 Monde, Indéfilms 2, Arches Films, CNC, ARTE France Cinéma, Dune Vision, Le Pacte, Ciné+, Les films du Worso
Languages
English, Bamanankan, Français
Awards
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 33 wins & 28 nominations total