When we think of “diasporic cinema,” we often imagine works that explore diasporic identity through characters and situations. Abderrahmane Sissako, a master of 21st-century African cinema, has long grappled with the question of alternative cinematic formsㅡforms that capture the lives of those adrift, unable to find a place to settle, and the landscapes that surround them.
This lecture will examine the notion of “diasporic form” through a close reading of Bamako, the film that brought Sissako international recognition. It will also explore how his work connects with broader movements in the history of cinema from sub-Saharan Africa.