Yeelen
This was another movie I had problems finding. Early on, I
found it on YouTube, but without subtitles. As this is a movie in a Mailan language
I did not understand anything and half an hour in, I had to throw in the towel,
this was too stupid. My only take away was that this was very African. More research
and I found a version with subtitles and what a difference that made! I cannot
say I understand everything, this is still too culturally embedded in West Africa,
but I managed to get caught up in the story and I did enjoy the movie.
“Yeelen” can best be described a fairy tale or a legend, a
magic story from many years ago where magic is a real thing, which the story
takes seriously. While we never learn exactly when the story takes place, it has
the feel of a world where people have been living in this way for thousands of
years and except for a few concessions (some agriculture, basic iron working,
horseback riding) maybe since dawn of humanity.
In this world we meet Nianankoro (Issiaka Kane), a young man
and a wizard. Nianankoro and his mother escaped his crazy father years ago and
now he learns that his father is looking for him to kill him. Soma (Niamanto
Sanogo), as his father is called, is indeed a crazy wizard. He walks around
with his two servants carrying his magic totem while he screams and shouts
curses of destruction on his son and everybody in general. I never learned
exactly why he is so upset, but he did seem quite deranged.
Nianankoro sets out on a journey to find his uncle, another
magic man. Passing through the land of the Fulas he helps the king (Balla
Moussa Keita) defeat his enemies by conjuring up a swarm of bees. When the king
asks him to also help him cure his youngest wife, Attou (Aoua Sangare), of
barrenness, he is taken in by the young beauty and must admit that “My cock
betrayed me”. The most awesome line in a movie of great lines. He did cure here
of barrenness, old school way. Nianankoro is sent on his way, now with a new
wife.
He finds his uncle and is equipped with a magic tool of his
own, the wing of Kore. Soon he meets his father in a cataclysmic battle. The
god, or whatever magic entity that gives them power tells Soma that he is so disgusted
with the way he has abused his power. The battle erupts with blinding light,
both wizards disappear and the land is devastated and I think we are to understand
that this is what created the Sahara Desert.
Attou’s son is then seen to pick up the remains, and it is
with him the future of the Bambara people lies.
“Yeelen” works best if you see this as an African Odyssey or
local version of Lord of the Rings. Magic in this context is very real and a
lot of the action and reactions, while obscure in a modern context, makes
perfect sense within the logic of the movie. I do not understand half of the
things they are doing, especially the conclave of the wizards is very strange
and bizarre with a lot of weird yelling, but I buy it because it makes sense in
this world. I get the feeling the movie is very true to folklore and ancient
customs in Mali and a local viewer will see a lot more meaning than i do. I am
just happy it all looks authentic.
There is a real danger that something so culturally embedded
would be too difficult for an outsider to follow, but once I got the subtitles,
the story caught me completely. I rooted for Nianankoro and felt the tension of
the chase of his crazy wizard father.
This is also a beautiful movie with lots of scenic shots and
a beautiful framing of the characters. It is evident that many of the actors
are amateurs, but the key characters are doing a good job and together with the
beautiful scenery, this is a feast for the senses.
“Yeleen” won the Jury’s prize in Cannes in 1987 and was
nominated for the Palme d’Or. I can see why.
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