The Significance of Art in Motion

The most significant scene in the movie, is the series of ending scenes leading up to the death of Chaka(Melé's husband). Sissako uses art as means of communication with the chronological order of the scenes. As the viewer sees Melé singing and her emotions become more apparent; she is crying...perhaps due to her economical situation or problems in her personal life.

Singing. Bamako 2006.

The next scene: As she is singing a fan is pushed towards her sick child, and the fan cuts off Melé's husband in their wedding photo. Then the camera pans down to Melé's child sleeping; a gunshot is then heard in the background.

Wedding photo and Fan. Bamako 2006.

Ending Scene: In a parking lot or desserted area in Malian man was shot/shoots himself. As the gun shot  goes off, a car in the distance blows its tire simultaneously. While the man is laying for death, the occupants of the car have no idea of the incident in the distance.

Gunshot and Car. Bamako 2006

These series of scenes are significant as they may be hinting to Melé's husband being shot/shooting himself. It also indicates a certain feeling among the Malian people. Almost the feeling of being left behind; Sissako included other elements in his film.

"No one will listen." Bamako 2006.

"Don't waste your time." Bamako 2006

Earlier in the film this conversation occurred between the recorder and a civilian. Saying "no one will listen" and "Don't waste your time" expresses the emotions these civilians of Bamako identify with. The use of singing with these series of scenes conveys Sissako's concept of using art to communicate a greater theme of emotions surrounding the film's plot. 

Abderrahmane Sissako; the Major Figure for Bamako

As the most distinguished and inventive filmmaker in Africa, Abderrahmane Sissako returned to Mali for filming Bamako as it was his childhood home. He was born in Mauritania on October 13th 1961 and lived in Mali with his father for a portion of his childhood.

He attended the University of Moscow and won an award for his graduation assignment le jeu. [Biography] Sissako currently resides in France; he films mostly in France and in Mali. Two of his renowned films are Bamako and Heremakono. Both drama films are set in Mali reflecting Sissako's roots.

Sissako discusses Heremakono  in this interview with Tribeca Film Festival

In this interview, although in French, Sissako discusses his motivations for the film Bamako.

He discusses his motivation for Bamako as targeting issues with Family, War, Money. He conveys real life situation through the casting of actors from the region.

Abderrahmane Sissako; the Man Behind the Camera

Abderrahmane Sissako once said “Through art you can invent the impossible.”[New York Times Article] In his most recent film Bamako (2006),  he explores this idea of art or film transmitting a message in terms of globalization. Globalization by means of returning to his native town in Mali conveying a story applicable to modern day Malian culture. He targets globalized organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund; both international economic organizations demonstrating immense power. A plot is connected between these organizations through a trial (set in Bamako) blaming the worlds major banks for the poverty level in Mali. Throughout the film Sissako uses powerful symbolic images demonstrating not only the poverty level in Mali, but he also uses language as an important message of communication between the natives of Mali and the officiants in the trial.

Bamako educates the viewer with several documentary or staged footage depicting everyday life in the Mali region. Between trial scenes, Sissako adds a touch of every day life images, such as footage of a child bathing.

Child being bathed. Bamako 2006.

There are also a series of images establishing the poverty Mali is currently facing. In between the trial scenes there are also strong images either documentary or staged photos of West Africans including Malians trying to cross the Sahara to meet a ship sneaking them from Morocco to Spain. This young woman dies along the way.

Bamako 2006.

Bamako 2006.

These series of images aid the plot of Bamako as well as transmit a message to the view about the routines and poverty. These series of images lead to the message of globalization Sissako conveys to the viewer.

Another use of communication to the viewer and the natives of Bamako is the languages used throughout the film. As a French minor, the prononciation of French varies between the native France actors and actresses vs the Malian french speakers. This difference in pronunciation is evidence explaining the directors choice of actors for specific roles from specific regions.

Man singing. Bamako 2006.