Yeelen

Yeelen (1987)

Genres - Drama  |   Sub-Genres - Adventure Drama, Coming-of-Age  |   Run Time - 105 min.  |   Countries - Burkina Faso, France, Mali  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Filmed in the African country of Mali, Yeelen (Brightness) weaves several Kenyan folk stories into an engaging framework. The hero is a young boy whose father is an evil magician. Marked for death by his long-absent papa, the boy bids goodbye to his mother and heads for the hills. En route to his kindly uncle, our hero utilizes his own conjuring skills for the benefit of those less fortunate than himself; he also rescues a king from being deposed.

Characteristics

Keywords

coming-of-age, good-vs-evil, king, magic, on-the-run, parent/child-relationship, proving-oneself, runaway [from home], search, showdown, tribe

Attributes

High Artistic Quality, High Historical Importance