Delwende (2005)

Director:

S. Pierre Yameogo

Writer:

S. Pierre Yameogo (writer)

Release Date:

14 December 2005 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Witchcraft | Tragedy

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Blandine Yaméogo	...	Napoko
Claire Ilboudo	...	Pougbila
Célestin Zongo	...	Diahrra
Abdoulaye Komboudri	...	Nonceur
Daniel Kabore	...	Bancé, l'ancien
Jules Taonssa	...	Raogo, le devin
Thomas Ngourma	...	Elie, le fou

Also Known As:

Delwende, lève-toi et marche (France)

Runtime:

Argentina:90 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | France:89 min

Country:

Switzerland | France | Burkina Faso

Language:

More | French

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:18 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva)

Company:

Dunia Productions

African Social Realism

This is another fine film from Burkina Faso that deals with the conflict between tradition and modernity and while not deprecating either, shows the need for social change from within society without following Western models of change. Much of the film, according to the director, is actually real footage and the characters are very real. That adds something to it. Especially the visit to the witches' asylum, all of that was real, and heartbreaking. The village scenes and the conflicts early in the movie show that traditional cultures have their positive aspects as well as their negative, and prevent romantic notions of tradition, while the scenes depicting urban disaffection in Ouagadougou show the continuing relevance of the traditional in providing safety and belonging in society.