God of Thunder

During the early days of World War II, the tension between West African villagers and French soldiers escalates. The French troops round up young Africanmen and enlist them. The people in a Diola village resist. One year later the conflict continues over rice supplies. Rice is both food and sacred substance and the French demand the crops to be turned over. The tribe hides them, rifles are brought out, the deities including Emitai (god of sky and war) remain silent. The revolution is tragically suppressed.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.
Script: Ousmane Sembene
Cinematography: Georges Caristan
Editing: Gilbert Kikoine
Sound: El Hadji M’Bow
Actors: Robert Fontaine (the Commandant), Michel Renaudeau (the Lieutenant), Pierre Blanchard (the Colonel), Andoujo Diahou (the Sergeant), Fode Cambay (the Corporal), Therese M’Bissine Diop, Ibou Camara, Ous
Production: Les Films Domirev
Producers: Paulin Soumanou Vieyra
Co-production: Ministere Cooperation, France
Format: 35mm Color
Production Country: Senegal
Production Year: 1971
Duration: 95
Contact: La Mediatheque des Trois Mondes, FranceT. +33 1 4234 9900F. +33 1 4234 9901cine3mondes@wanadoo.fr

Ousmane Sembene

He was born in 1923 and died in 2007. He is a Senegalese writer, chronicler and film director, best-known for his historical- political works with strong social comment. In the 1960s he developed an interest in the cinema and went to the Gorki Institute in Moscow to study film production. His Black Girl was the first film ever produced by an African filmmaker and won the Jean Vigo Award at the Cannes IFF 1966. He often turned his short stories and novels into films. During his career as a director, he received several international awards and his films were immensely popular in Africa.

Filmography

1963 Borom Sarret/The Cart Driver (short)
1963 L’Empire Songhai/The Songhai Empire (short doc.)
1964 Niaye (short)
1966 La Noire de.../Black Girl
1968 Mandabi/The Money Order
1969 (Traumatisme de la femme face a la) polygamie/
Women and the Trauma of Polygamy (doc.)
1969 Probleme de l’emploi a.k.a. Les Derives du chomage/
Unemployment Problems (doc)
1970 Tauw (short)
1971 Emitai/God of Thunder
1972 Jeux Olympiques de Munich/The Munich Olympic Games (doc.)
1974 Xala/The Curse
1976 Ceddo
1988 Camp de Thiaroye/Camp Thiaroye
1992 Guelwaar
1999 L’heroisme au quotidian/Daily Heroism (short)
2000 Faat Kine
2004 Moolaade