
Vie sur terre, La
Abderrahmane Sissako / FR, MR, 1998
To mark the premiere of Timbuktu, an urgently topical film about the occupation of northern Mali by jihadists, EYE is screening three feature films previously directed by the Mauretanian-French director Abderrahmane Sissako. La vie sur terre, Sissako’s first long feature film, presents the contrasts between Africa and Europe in strong images.

On the eve of the 21st century, director Sissako leaves Paris for the Malinese village of Sokolo, where his father lives. He spends time exploring the countryside on his bicycle, listening to the stories of the villagers who don”t seem all that bothered about the advent of the new millennium. In Europe the atmosphere is fraught with expectation about the new century, but in the village of Sissako”s father life goes on as usual. Occasionally the odd radio message reaches the village, and the telephone line to the outside world is frequently disrupted.
La vie sur terre was Sissako”s highly successful contribution to “2000, vue par...”, an international project involving a series of films about the very last day of the twentieth century. The music score selected by Sissako includes the catchy rhythms and vocals by Salif Keita and Balafons et Tambours d'Afrique.
Details
Director
Abderrahmane Sissako
Production year
1998
Country
FR, MR
Original title
Vie sur terre, La
Subtitles
NLD
Format
35mm
Share your love for film and become a member of the Eye Society.