I have to admit that I delayed watching this film because I knew there was a message to it and that it was an “important” film. I wish that I hadn’t waited as it wasn’t what I expected. Shot with an almost startling beauty, Moolaadé tells the story of a small African village, the people who live there and their traditions. The story unfolds in a deceptively simple way with the characters and conflicts becoming more complex as the story progresses. It’s a remarkable film that has given me a glimpse of a world that is fascinating to watch. The film is even more remarkable considering that Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene directed the film when he was 80 years old.