Sarraounia (film)
Encyclopedia
Sarraounia is a 1986 historical drama film
written and directed by Med Hondo
. It is based on a novel of the same name by Niger
ien author Abdoulaye Mamani
, who co-wrote the screenplay. The novel and film concern the real-life Battle of Lougou
between Azna queen Sarraounia
and the advancing French Colonial Forces
of the Voulet-Chanoine Mission
in 1899. Sarraounia was one of few African tribal leaders that resisted the advances of French expansionists Paul Voulet and Julien Chanoine. The film won the first prize at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
(FESPACO) and was critically well-received.
and the surrounding region of the Sahel
. It begins with the initiation
and establishment as queen of the Aznas of a young girl. The young queen, Sarraounia, becomes an accomplished warrior
when she defends her tribe from an enemy tribe. Accomplished in archery
and herbalism
, she is a renowned sorceress
. Meanwhile, French colonialists Paul Voulet and Julien Chanoine set out to conquer new lands for the French colonial empire
. As they advance across the land they rape
women and leave burning villages in their wake.
first published his novel Sarraounia, he gave a copy to his friend Med Hondo who decided to put aside all other projects to adapt it into a film. As well as using the book for reference, Hondo conducted research with Mamani, interviewing older Nigerien people and accessing material in the national archives.
Hondo cast Aï Keïta after witnessing a confrontation between Keïta and a family member. Although he initially had her in mind for a small role in the film, he cast her as Sarraounia following the first casting session. This was her first acting job and she has since performed in films including Les Etrangers (The Foreigners) and SIDA dans la Cite (AIDS in the City), as well as in sitcoms.
The film was shot in 1986 in Burkina Faso
. It cost $3,000,000 to make, which was raised over seven years by Burkinabé
financiers and Hondo's own production company.
(FESPACO). Historian Frank Ukadike called it "a landmark of African cinema
, the most ambitious for its inventiveness, professionalism and dedication." Writing for The Boston Phoenix, Chris Fujiwara said that the film avoids clichés, calling it a "large-scale epic drama" that is "both ironic and celebratory". Time Out called it "superbly crafted and expansive".
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
written and directed by Med Hondo
Med Hondo
Med Hondo is a Mauritanian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and voice actor. He emigrated to France in 1959 and began to work in film during the 1960s. He received critical acclaim for his 1967 directorial début Soleil O.-Biography:Hondo was born in 1936 in Ain Oul Beri Mathar in the...
. It is based on a novel of the same name by Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
ien author Abdoulaye Mamani
Abdoulaye Mamani
Abdoulaye Mamani was a Nigerien poet, novelist and trade unionist.-Biography:Mamani was born in 1932 in Zinder, Niger. He was a trade unionist. In 1980 he published his novel Sarraounia, based on the real-life Battle of Lougou between Azna queen Sarraounia and French Colonial Forces. To write the...
, who co-wrote the screenplay. The novel and film concern the real-life Battle of Lougou
Battle of Lougou
The French Voulet-Chanoine Mission, led by the captains Paul Voulet and Julien Chanoine, had been dispatched in 1898 to Africa by the French government with the mission to conquer the territories between the Niger River and Lake Chad and join in uniting French territories in West Africa...
between Azna queen Sarraounia
Sarraounia
Sarraounia was a Queen of the African Azna people, who ruled in a region of Western Africa during the late 19th century.She was ruler of an animist group of Eastern Hausa. Queen Sarraounia of the Aznas fought the French colonial troops in 1899...
and the advancing French Colonial Forces
French Colonial Forces
The French Colonial Forces , commonly called La Coloniale, was a general designation for the military forces that garrisoned in the French colonial empire from the late 17th century until 1960. They were recruited from mainland France or from the French settler and indigenous populations of the...
of the Voulet-Chanoine Mission
Voulet-Chanoine Mission
The Voulet–Chanoine Mission or Central African Mission was a French military expedition sent out from Senegal in 1898 to conquer the Chad Basin and unify all French territories in West Africa...
in 1899. Sarraounia was one of few African tribal leaders that resisted the advances of French expansionists Paul Voulet and Julien Chanoine. The film won the first prize at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou is the largest African film festival, held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The festival is the biggest regular cultural event on the African continent and it mostly focuses on the African film and African filmmakers...
(FESPACO) and was critically well-received.
Synopsis
The film takes place in NigerNiger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and the surrounding region of the Sahel
Sahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
. It begins with the initiation
Initiation
Initiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components...
and establishment as queen of the Aznas of a young girl. The young queen, Sarraounia, becomes an accomplished warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
when she defends her tribe from an enemy tribe. Accomplished in archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
and herbalism
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
, she is a renowned sorceress
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. Meanwhile, French colonialists Paul Voulet and Julien Chanoine set out to conquer new lands for the French colonial empire
French colonial empire
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
. As they advance across the land they rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
women and leave burning villages in their wake.
Cast
- Aï Keïta as Sarraounia
- Jean-Roger Milo as Capitaine Voulet
- Féodor AtkineFéodor AtkineFéodor Atkine is a French actor.Born in Paris of Russian-Polish descent, he has had a career in European cinema and television since the early 1970s, and made occasional appearances in English-language films, notably as the Russian gangster "Mikhi" in Ronin, as Woody Allen's brother in Love and...
as Chanoine - Didier Sauvegrain as Doctor Henric
- Roger Miremont as Lieutenant Joalland
- Luc-Antoine Diquéro as Lt. Pallier
- Jean-Pierre CastaldiJean-Pierre CastaldiJean-Pierre Castaldi is a French actor. He is the father of French TV presenter Benjamin Castaldi.- Selected filmography :-References:...
as Sergeant Boutel
Production
When Nigerien author Abdoulaye MamaniAbdoulaye Mamani
Abdoulaye Mamani was a Nigerien poet, novelist and trade unionist.-Biography:Mamani was born in 1932 in Zinder, Niger. He was a trade unionist. In 1980 he published his novel Sarraounia, based on the real-life Battle of Lougou between Azna queen Sarraounia and French Colonial Forces. To write the...
first published his novel Sarraounia, he gave a copy to his friend Med Hondo who decided to put aside all other projects to adapt it into a film. As well as using the book for reference, Hondo conducted research with Mamani, interviewing older Nigerien people and accessing material in the national archives.
Hondo cast Aï Keïta after witnessing a confrontation between Keïta and a family member. Although he initially had her in mind for a small role in the film, he cast her as Sarraounia following the first casting session. This was her first acting job and she has since performed in films including Les Etrangers (The Foreigners) and SIDA dans la Cite (AIDS in the City), as well as in sitcoms.
The film was shot in 1986 in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
. It cost $3,000,000 to make, which was raised over seven years by Burkinabé
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
financiers and Hondo's own production company.
Reception
The film won the First Prize (Étalon de Yennenga) at the 1987 Panafrican Film and Television Festival of OuagadougouPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou is the largest African film festival, held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The festival is the biggest regular cultural event on the African continent and it mostly focuses on the African film and African filmmakers...
(FESPACO). Historian Frank Ukadike called it "a landmark of African cinema
African cinema
The term African cinema refers to the film production in Africa, following formal independence. Some of the countries in North Africa developed a national film industry much earlier and are related to West Asian cinema...
, the most ambitious for its inventiveness, professionalism and dedication." Writing for The Boston Phoenix, Chris Fujiwara said that the film avoids clichés, calling it a "large-scale epic drama" that is "both ironic and celebratory". Time Out called it "superbly crafted and expansive".