A teenage beauty is besieged by male attention and trapped by village traditions in this revelatory Senegalese drama from sub-Saharan Africa’s first female filmmaker, Safi Faye, with the newly restored film available with English subtitles for the first time.

Rarely seen since its initial 1996 screening in Un Certain Regard at Cannes, ethnologist turned writer/director Faye’s feature examines the rights and plights of women within a rural African context, offering an eye-opening look at the realities, expectations and rituals of everyday Senegalese life.

Considered the pride of Mbissel due to her appearance, 14-year-old Mossane has no shortage of men eager to take her hand in marriage. Since birth, she has been promised to the wealthy Diogoye but her heart belongs to young student Fara. Alas, attempting to take control of her own fate leads to tragic consequences.

Shot by frequent Michael Haneke collaborator Jürgen Jürges (MIFF 2003’s Time of the Wolf, MIFF 1998’s Funny Games), Mossane is a powerful account of resistance from a pivotal but underappreciated voice in African cinema.

Contains footage of animal slaughter

Screening made possible by the Africa's Lost Classics (ALC) project. ALC is organised by the Africa in Motion Film Festival and supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the University of Glasgow in the UK.

africa-in-motion.org.uk