Twist à Bamako

Dancing the Twist in Bamako is a film that transports us to the 1960s, when Mali was a newly independent nation full of hope and challenges. The film follows Samba (Bakary Sangaré), a young socialist who works for a progressive government that aims to create a more just and egalitarian society. He meets Lara (Aïssa Maïga), a spirited woman who flees from her arranged marriage to join him in Bamako, the capital city. Together, they enjoy dancing to rock and roll music imported from the West, along with their friends and comrades.

The film, directed by Robert Guédiguian, based on his own screenplay, is a celebration of youth, music, and love. The film captures the energy and optimism of that era, with colorful costumes, lively songs, and dynamic choreography. The film also depicts the political and social realities of Mali at that time, such as poverty, corruption, tribalism, colonialism, and coups d'état.

The film's main appeal is the chemistry between Sangaré and Maïga, who deliver charming and passionate performances. They make us care about their characters' dreams and struggles. The supporting cast is also excellent, especially Ibrahim Koma as Bakary Keita (Samba's friend) , Ariane Ascaride as Madame Lenoir (Lara's mentor) , Jean-Pierre Darroussin as Pierre Lenoir (a French journalist) , Gérard Meylan as Colonel Traoré (a military leader) , and Anissa Allali as Fatoumata (Lara's sister).

Dancing the Twist in Bamako is a film that offers a refreshing and engaging perspective on Mali's history and culture. It is a film that celebrates the power of music and love to overcome adversity.

This is a very confused piece.

One is never quite sure which side the filmmaker is on. Is he on the side of the newlyformed Malian republic with a socialist flavour or on the side of the business people who find the new Republic a problem for their profit margins.

Maybe he isn't on anybody's side but simply painting a realistic picture of the situation in Mali after the French departed in the very early 1960s.

The use of blatantly Parisian actors is a bit weird. The main actor is French Congolese the main actress is Cape Verdean French. Both of them excellent anyway.

Was it impossible to find two Malians as main actors?

Anyway many of the actors in the film are Malians so it isn't such a big crime after all.

The photography side of the operation is very successful as are the costumes and the feeling of the times.

What is not successful is the storyline unconvincing at the best of times. For me also the educated Parisian accent of the two main contenders is quite difficult to swallow.

As part of a wider reflection when a country decides to take a socialist route yes many will not want that and fight it and yes often the new regime will repress those people. In a way in this film it is shown very graphically very clearly.

The final stretch of the film shows the situation in 2012 in northern Mali and shows that the Taliban/jihadist has now enforced Rules which are in their way more Draconian than any of these early 1960s socialist injunctions.

I am not aware of other works by the director here so I have nothing to compare this one with; But I found this plot a little bitty in places Lacking an overall storyline and the finale was really quite cockeyed and trite it seemed to me.

Anyway it was nice to see a film on Mali although I am not sure a French crew is really the best to go and make that there. Maybe Films made about Mali should be made by Malians especially considering the history between those two countries.

Maybe it is still too soon for France to have anything to do with that place especially with the recent Operation Barkhane French military "help " Against the Taliban which was so counter-productive that the government finally asked them to leave replacing them with the Wagner Russian mercenary force a move some might describe as out of the frying pan into the fire ....

This film is totally worth seeing especially if you're interested in African politics or the history of Africa or the history of colonialism...