The Sunday Morning Movie Presents: Yeelen (Brightness) Run Time 1H 38M

Greetings gentle readers and welcome to another installment of the Sunday Morning Movie. Today it’s one of my favorite films, considered by some to be the best movie out of Mali: Yeelen.

and next week’s film, In This House of Brede:

Reviews of Yeelen:

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews says:

African director-writer Souleymane Cisse’ Yeelen is a visually spellbinding masterpiece. It’s a stunning mythical fantasy set in the ancient Bambara culture of Mali (formerly French Sudan) in the 13th century. This was some time before Morocco invaded in the 16th century, as Bambara’s destruction was prophesized by the blind seer in the film. Cisse’s adaptation is from the ancient oral Mali legend. He was born in 1940 in Bamako, the capital of Mali, where he lives today after returning in the 1960s from studying filmmaking in Moscow.

Slant says:

Cissé can evoke the wondrous magical powers of the film’s Bambara people with as a little as a dog and an Albino native walking backward in time. You won’t find an image this powerful and as deceptively simple in your average Hollywood blockbuster that never brings us as close to the souls of its characters as Yeelen does. Cissé tries to capture the Bambara people’s belief in time “as circular, not linear, always returning to that initial ‘brightness’ which creates the world.” The film begins with a shot of the red-hot sun rising on the distant horizon and ends with Attou and her son lifting two egg-like objects buried beneath the desert (presumably the bodies of Niankoro and Soma). It’s a sign of true genius that a director can summon the rise, fall, and subsequent rebirth of the cosmos with such a profound understanding and respect for the shape of things.

The Knockturnal says:

Taking place in 13th Century Mali, Yeelen follows Niankoro (Issiaka Kane), a boy who’s hunted by his shamanic father, Soma (Niamanto Sanogo), as he fears his son will grow stronger than him. Along the way, he develops his magic powers training with his uncle Djigui (also played by Niamanto Sanogo) and battling warring tribes. The film is as pure a fantasy film as you can find. Souleymane Cissé’s script is deeply accessible, but in a way that doesn’t sacrifice it’s for mainstream acceptance. Whether you watch Yeelen as a fun genre film or a deep dive into Bambara mythological archetypes, you’re in for a fun watch. The Bambara cultural shorthand may tough, but Cissé’s strong story and character writing keep the film engaging for general audiences. Additionally, his cinematography is gorgeous, capturing the Malian landscapes beautifully while also making the villages and fields feel rough and lived in. Cissé’s direction creates a constructed atmosphere, reflecting how the magic in this world stems from crafts and tools.

Letterboxd says:

Visually stunning and unlike anything I’ve seen. It’s slow, mystical, and rooted in West African tradition, which gives it this otherworldly vibe without relying on special effects or big action. Everything feels ancient, like you’re watching a legend unfold instead of a normal movie.

It’s definitely not for everyone, the pacing is super slow and the storytelling is more symbolic than clear. But if you let it wash over you, it’s beautiful asf. The landscapes, the quiet magic, the tension between father and son, it all builds into something really powerful.

Not perfect, and parts of it feel distant, but it’s a unique experience that really sticks with you. Dreamlike and heavy in the best way.

My take: This is a wonderful film. First of all, it’s about magic, a topic close to my heart. It’s a tale that pits father versus son, a classic conflict. It’s dreamy and filled with symbolism. The special effects are simple but more convincing than much of the CGI you get bombarded with these days. You feel as if you are watching a myth play out in front of your eyes, instead of a fantasy movie. It deserves to be watch over and over again: ⭐⭐⭐.

Director: Souleymane Cissé

Writer: Souleymane Cissé

Plot (Spoilers!):

Young Niankoro lives peacefully with his mother but is targeted for death by his sorcerer father. The father has foreseen that Niankoro will be the cause of his death. Niankoro steals a number of his father’s magical items and flees to seek his fortune.

The youth encounters a number of adventures on his journey. He is captured by a local tribe but his magic convinces them to set him free. He then assists them with a neighboring tribe they are at war with. All seems well but then he sleeps with a king’s wife and, along with her, is banished from the land.

The movie ends with Niankoro confronting his evil father. A battle of magic ensues and both are killed, leaving behind two eggs. Niankoro’s wife and son come and take the egg and his magical weapon with them on their journey.