Film Review: “Yeelen” an enjoyable distinctly Malian fantasy epic

The Joseph Campbell Hero’s Journey inspired many movies.

Whether its Percy Jackson and the Olympians or Star Wars, the Hero’s Journey has been the template for telling compelling and relatable stories. As the narrative became more ingrained into modern storytelling, the format helped make storytelling tropes instantly recognizable. While there is a danger of leaning on these tropes too hard, the structure allows for foreign filmmakers to structure their films in a more universally accessible way, while maintaining their own cultural shorthands and identity. This blend of the traditional hero’s journey with a singular cultural identity is perfectly shown in director Souleymane Cissé’s fantasy film, Yeelen.

Taking place in 13^th Century Mali, Yeelen follows Niankoro (Issiaka Kane), a boy who’s hunted by his shamanic father, Soma (Niamanto Sanogo), as he fears his son will grow stronger than him. Along the way, he develops his magic powers training with his uncle Djigui (also played by Niamanto Sanogo) and battling warring tribes. The film is as pure a fantasy film as you can find. Souleymane Cissé’s script is deeply accessible, but in a way that doesn’t sacrifice it’s for mainstream acceptance. Whether you watch Yeelen as a fun genre film or a deep dive into Bambara mythological archetypes, you’re in for a fun watch. The Bambara cultural shorthand may tough, but Cissé’s strong story and character writing keep the film engaging for general audiences. Additionally, his cinematography is gorgeous, capturing the Malian landscapes beautifully while also making the villages and fields feel rough and lived in. Cissé’s direction creates a constructed atmosphere, reflecting how the magic in this world stems from crafts and tools.

While Yeelen doesn’t have flashy effects, Cissé’s attention to detail in his prop work and acting direction enhances the film’s action scenes. Cissé focuses heavily on the crafting shots, building up the creation of the magical artifacts so the rituals have more weight. Additionally, the practical effects and camera tricks are well-timed and skilled while building on the crafting scenes to infer and enhance the effects of magic. The acting throughout the film is great, with Niamanto Sanogo being an incredibly fun standout. While he’s great at is double role, nearly unrecognizable as either Djigui or Soma, I enjoyed his performance as Soma the most. He’s incredibly fun as an over-the-top evil wizard, injecting tremendous power in his commands and dialogue. Issiaka Kane is also very charismatic as Niankoro, with his stoic expressions and flashes of personality making him a compelling lead.

If you’re a fantasy or blockbuster fan and you want to expose yourself to more foreign films, Yeelen is a must watch. Souleymane Cissé crafted something special when he made Yeelen, a compelling story fantasy epic with relatable characters and fun villain, all built around Bambara mythology and cultural archetypes. Seeing the film is a unique experience, and acts as the perfect bridge to diving deeper into African cinema.

Yeelen will be playing as part of the New York African Film Festival on May 13th.