Bamako

In a poor section of Bamako, Mali, bar singer Mel̩ and her jobless husband Chaka face seemingly irresolvable differences in their marriage. Meanwhile, in the dusty courtyard behind their house, African civil society takes on two of the world's largest institutions: the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Africa is in a state of economic and financial destitution. Every year African countries spend nearly $10 billion on debt service, while under-funded health and education services continue to decline. Despite several requests to cancel the debt, the World Bank and the IMF have offered little help to these suffering countries. Sissako's BAMAKO gives a platform to real Malians, lawyers, and judges who have been silenced for years. Executive Producer Danny Glover makes an appearance in this brutal censure of globalization. (In French and Bambara with English subtitles) РE.J.B.