Rabi

Definitely my most favorite Gaston Kabore film so far, who could believe it was possible to create a psychological drama in an African village! The man does just that, adapting the ideas and placing them with perfection in the gorgeous setting of a little Burkinabe village in one of the greener seasons. The story is about a child called Rabi gradually getting obsessed with tortoises. The case starts when his father brings home a small tortoise after almost running it over with his cycle. Rabi gradually starts thinking only about it and by the end of the movie a lot has happened. The film also has a beautiful subplot of Rabi's grandfather's lost romance with his tobacco vendor, and how ultimately Rabi helps them reconcile. Well beauty and Africa is inevitable but the genius of this film lies in the idea, in my opinion. What a stroke of thought it is to shoot obsession with wildlife in the heart of it all, the savannah plateaus; the idea itself is a winner. And Kabore's effortless, flowing technique makes it even more interesting, absorbing and touching. Joseph Nikiema has starred in all of Kabore's films and he has been great, and overall, this film is a gem that people need to watch. The end too, is really great in its subtle, reflective dialog. And the use of great aerial shots and complex frames, like three people doing three different things in perfect rhythm, is very well done here. It adds to the lyrical nature, another common feature of Kabore's filmmaking.