UK PREMIÈRE SCREENING OF MOOLAADE (15)

FORWARD is pleased to announce the UK Première Screening of MOOLAADÉ (15)
A film by Ousmane Sembene
WINNER - BEST FILM ‘UN CERTAIN REGARD’ Cannes Film Festival 2004

A co-production of Direction de la Cinématographie Nationale (Burkina Faso), Centre Cinématographiqie Marocain (Morocco), Cinétéléfilms (Tunisia), Les Films de la Terre Africaine (Cameroon), Executive producer: Ciné Sud Promotion (France) Ousmane Sembene is the legendary Senegalese filmmaker, regarded as the Father of African Cinema. His latest film, MOOLAADÉ, won the Prize for Best Film in the Certain Regard section in Cannes 2004 last year. A patriarch with obvious feminist sympathies, in MOOLAADÉ he brilliantly tackles his most controversial subject to date: female genital mutilation (FGM).

Senegal 2004 / 124 mins / In Bambara and French with English subtitles / colour Starring FATOUMATA COULIBALY, MAÏMOUNA HÉLÈNE DIARRA and SALIMATA TRAORÉ

Colle Gallo Ardo Sy, a woman who has undergone FGM, has managed to help her only daughter escape from the ‘ritual of purification’ organised every seven years. Now that the next ritual is about to happen, four young girls have fled from the village to escape from excision and are seeking protection (MOOLAADÉ) from Colle. The village is on the boil as two values clash dramatically: the right to protection and the attachment to tradition symbolised by FGM. MOOLAADÉ is a wonderful embracing and life-affirming film with the power to change the world. It celebrates the strength of women in modern day Africa, to whom it is dedicated:

“Female genital mutilation is practised in 28 of 54 member states of the African Union. Whatever the method used (traditional or modern), excision is a violation of the woman's dignity and integrity. I dedicate MOOLAADÉ to mothers, women who struggle to abolish the legacy of bygone days.”
Ousmane Sembene

Foundation for Women’s Health, Research and Development (FORWARD) is an international African-led women’s organisation with a long history of campaigning to end female genital mutilation (FGM). FORWARD is launching the UK premiere of Moolaadé to draw international attention to FGM as a sexual and reproductive health and human rights issue. A panel discussion led by FGM and development experts from around the globe will follow the screening.

DATE: Monday 30th May 17.45

RENOIR Cinema, Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AW.

For tickets
contact forward@forwarduk.org.uk
or telephone 020 8960 4000
£10 Full Price / £7 consessions

UK release date: 3rd June at the Ritzy, Renoir, NFT and selected cinemas