Buud Yam
Directed byGaston Kaboré
Written byGaston Kaboré
Produced byGaston Kaboré[1]
StarringSerge Yanogo
CinematographyJean-Noël Ferragut
Edited byMarie-Jeanne Kanyala
Didier Ranz
Music byMichel Portal
Distributed byAfrica Film Library
Release date
September 10, 1997 (France)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryBurkina Faso
LanguageMore[2]

Buud Yam is a 1997 Burkinabé historical drama film written and directed by Gaston Kaboré. It is the sequel to the film Wend Kuuni. As of 2001, it was the most popular African film ever in Burkina Faso.[3]

The title's meaning is unclear: buud can mean both "ancestors" and "descendants", while yam means "spirit" or "intelligence."[4] It has been translated as Soul of the Group.[5][6]

Plot

The film draws on the African oral tradition.[7] Set in a nineteenth century village, it follows a group of characters from Kaboré's debut film Wend Kuuni.[8] Wend Kuuni (Serge Yanogo) is a young man who is suspected of being responsible, through the use of sorcery, for his adopted sister's ill health. To help his sister, and clear his name, he tries to find a healer who uses the legendary "lion's herbs". He also searches for his own roots.[8][9]

Distribution and awards

In 1997, Buud Yam was shown at the Cannes Film Festival during Directors Fortnight and had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.[1] It won the Etalon de Yennega (the Grand Prize) at the 15th Ouagadougou Panafrican Film and Television Festival.[10]

Cast

References

  1. ^ a b "Buud Yam". Variety. Retrieved 2008-01-16.[dead link]
  2. ^ Eke, Maureen N.; Kenneth W. Harrow; Emmanuel Yewah (2000). African Images: Recent Studies and Text in Cinema. Africa World Press. pp. 31–39. ISBN 978-0-86543-819-4.
  3. ^ Steinglass, Matt (2001). "Open Windows On Distant Worlds; In Burkina Faso, An African Cannes". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  4. ^ Barlet, Olivier (1 August 2016). Contemporary African Cinema. MSU Press. ISBN 9781628952704 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Martin, Michael T.; Kaboré, Gaston (30 August 2018). ""I am a Storyteller, Drawing Water from the Well of My Culture": Gaston Kaboré, Griot of African Cinema". Research in African Literatures. 33 (4): 161–179. JSTOR 3820506.
  6. ^ "Research in African Literatures". African and Afro-American Studies and Research Center, University of Texas [at Austin. 30 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Africa South of the Sahara". FilmReference.com. 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  8. ^ a b Deming, Mark. "Budd Yam". Allmovie. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  9. ^ "Buud Yam Synopsis". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  10. ^ "Toronto festival gets 'Eve's Bayou' preem". Variety. 1997-07-08. Archived from the original on February 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-16.

External links


Films directed by Gaston Kaboré
FESPACO Étalon de Yennenga winners
Categories