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Ousmane Sembène
Director 1923 - 2007

Ousmane Sembène

Ziguinchor, Casamance, Senegal

Ousmane Sembène (January 1, 1923 — June 9, 2007), often credited in the French style as Sembène Ousmane in articles and reference works, was a Senegalese film director, producer and writer. The Los Angeles Times considered him one of the greatest authors of Africa and he has... Read full bio →

Directed Films

Every film this person directed

9 titles
Moolaadé

Moolaadé

Ousmane Sembène 2004 2h 4m

When a woman shelters a group of girls from suffering female genital mutilation, she starts a conflict that tears her village apart.

Guelwaar

Guelwaar

Ousmane Sembène 1993 1h 55m

Burial of a Christian political activist in a Muslim cemetary forces a conflict imbued with religious fervor.

Camp de Thiaroye

Camp de Thiaroye

Ousmane Sembène, Thierno Faty Sow 1988 2h 34m

In this semi-autobiographical film, black soldiers help to defend France, but are detained in prison camp before being repatriated home.

Ceddo

Ceddo

Ousmane Sembène 1978 1h 57m

The Ceddo people try to preserve their traditional African culture against the onslaught of Islam, Christianity, and the slave trade. When King Demba War sides with the Muslims, the Ceddo kidnap his daughter, Princess Dior Yacine, to protest their forcible conversion to Islam.

Xala

Xala

Ousmane Sembène 1975 2h 1m

A rich businessman in Senegal is cursed with crippling erectile dysfunction upon the day of his marriage to his third wife; the only cure is brutal public humiliation.

Emitaï

Emitaï

Ousmane Sembène 1971 1h 41m

As World War II is going on in Europe, a conflict arises between the French and the Diola-speaking tribe of Africa, prompting the village women to organize their men to sit beneath a tree to pray.

Mandabi

Mandabi

Ousmane Sembène 1968 1h 32m

A money order from a relative in Paris throws the life of a Senegalese family man out of order. He deals with corruption, greed, problematic family members, the locals and the changing from his traditional way of living to a more modern one.

La noire de...

La noire de...

Ousmane Sembène 1966 1h 5m 9.5

Eager to find a better life abroad, a Senegalese woman becomes a mere governess to a family in southern France, suffering from discrimination and marginalization.

Borom sarret

Borom sarret

Ousmane Sembène 1963 18m 8.0

A cart-taxi driver goes to the city to make a living, but out of sympathy with other poverty-stricken people, he works for free and goes hungry himself.

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