With Mooladé, director Ousmane Sembene delivers a strong message through an engaging and enlightening fictional narrative.  A Senegalese woman takes a stance against female circumcision in her rural village by granting refuge in her home to four young girls who want to escape genital mutilation.  She protects the girls under “Mooladé,” her spell of sanctuary that no one dares to violate.  Though her controversial actions divide the village, she stands firm against the pressures of those who oppose her.

Director Samba Gadjigo follows acclaimed author and director Ousmane Sembène during production in Burkina Faso and post-production in Morocco for his film Mooladé. Through interviews with the director, actors and crew, the film documents the difficult material and human conditions under which African films are made.