Bamako: Movie Concept and Theme Critical Essay

The film by Abderrahmane Sissako, Bamako, is an illustration of the themes revealed in The Eumenides by Aeschylus. The ancient Greek tragedy depicts the human society as it was in those distant times, though it is clear that little has changed since then. Aeschylus reveals the vices of people and brings to the fore the idea of an innocent victim who becomes a prey for sins he has not committed.

In Bamako, the trial is also an illustration of the same pattern. Innocent people of Africa suffer because some vicious people commit crimes. Likewise, Orestes who commits matricide because he is told so and is being judged can stand for the entire African society which endures lots of misfortunes because of such global organizations as World Bank and IMF.

In the first place, it is necessary to note that the Greek tragedy evokes quite different emotions and thoughts. Admittedly, Orestes commits a horrible crime as he kills his own mother. However, Orestes does not seem guilty as a deity persuaded him to do that, “Apollo. He is my witness.” (Aeschylus, 2000, p. 177).

More so, Orestes is convinced that the woman ceased to be his mother when she committed two crimes, “She killed her husband. And she killed my father.” (Aeschylus, 2000, p. 177). Therefore, he was forced to revenge for his father; he was forced to commit such a crime. Nonetheless, furies pursue him and make his life a living hell.

Likewise, people of Africa are not guilty in any crimes. Even though some Africans commit crimes, they are forced to do so. For instance, the man who steals the gun has no other choice (Sissako, 2006). What is more, just like Orestes, the thief is punished.

However, unlike Orestes, who is punished temporary and is then set free, the thief is punished by himself. The poor man kills himself (Sissako, 2006). This suicide stresses the idea of injustice and the feeling of doom. The scene emphasizes the idea of despair.

Another important issue to be discussed is the very trial depicted in the two works of art. While reading the Greek tragedy, I thought that it was an example of the first trial ever, which is rather just. However, after watching the film, I realized that the film was an illustration of the present-day courts.

Admittedly, contemporary courts are far from being just, especially when it comes to multinationals and global structures. In the tragedy, the trial is ‘institutionalized’ by Athena (Carter, 2011, p. 159). The decision made is protected by the power of the deity and the innocent person is saved from its sufferings.

In reality, no one can protect the people of Africa as huge enterprises have taken over all major institutions in the region. Innocent people have nowhere to go and have no one to protect them. Even though people have their right to talk and discuss, nothing really changes.

The people of Africa claim that the region is exploited by global structures and the governments give budget money away to pay the national debts, instead of focusing on improving living standards in the area. The people Africa understand that the relationship between the people, governments and global structures “are governed by lies, hypocrisy, and cynicism” (Sissako, 2006).

The trial in Bamako unveils a variety of vices of the modern society and the sufferings of Africans, but the trial does not end in a particular decision. This trial is symbolic as there are many talks in the contemporary society, but nothing changes.

Finally, the film can be regarded as the necessary contrast to the tragedy. When reading the tragedy, I thought it was logical that Orestes’s arguments were taken into account. Admittedly, it is one of the most common values of the western societies to listen to all sides and make a just decision. In the tragedy, Orestes is listened to and Athena ensures the right of each party to talk.

More importantly, the sides are heard and the just decision is made. However, in the film, the people of Africa are not heard. They provide their arguments but the words do not reach people’s ears. The director of the film makes a lot of effort to make the public hear Africans, “Truth cannot always be expressed in words…

It can also be silent, and you cannot say no to those who are silent.” (Lim, 2007, n.p.). The silent scene of the funeral embodies this idea. Therefore, the film’s ending intensifies the idea of people’s desire to live in a justice world introduced in the tragedy.

In conclusion, it is possible to note that the film is a great illustration of major themes touched upon in Aeschylus’s tragedy. The film has made me see the difference between the values promulgated by the western societies and the real situation in the world where justice can hardly be achieved. Obviously, people need to go back to the just trials of Athena.

Reference List

Aeschylus, P. S. (2000). The Oresteia of Aeschylus: A new translation. (T. Hughes, Trans.). New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Carter, D.M. (2011). Why Athens?: A reappraisal of tragic politics. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Lim, D. (2007, February 11). One angry African puts big money on trial. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/movies/11denn.html?_r=0

Sissako, A. (Director). (2006). Bamako. Bamako, Mali: Archipel 33. Web.