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An unemployed man, Ibrahima, lives with his two wives and kids. A nephew of his sends him a money order from France worth 25,000 Francs which he has saved from working as a street sweeper. He is to keep some of the money for himself, save a portion for his nephew, and give a portion to his sister. However, Ibrahima faces numerous difficulties with the Senegalese bureaucracy in trying to cash the money order. The film explores themes of neocolonialism, religion, corruption, and relationships in Senegalese society. Sembène’s first feature length film, Mandabi shows his masterful use of humor and his penchant for subtle, moving stories. Often compared to Satyagit Ray’s early film work, Mandabi opened the world’s eyes to Africa’s tremendous cinematic talent. About Ousmane Sembène

SPECIAL FEATURES

New 4K restoration

Introduction by film scholar Aboubakar Sanogo

New conversation with author and screenwriter Boubacar Boris Diop and sociologist and feminist activist Marie Angélique Savané

Praise Song, a new program about director Ousmane Sembène featuring outtakes from the 2015 documentary Sembène! of interviews with author and activist Angela Davis, musician Youssou N’Dour, filmmaker and scholar Manthia Diawara, and many others

Tauw, a 1970 short film by Sembène

New English subtitle translation by Sembène biographer Samba Gadjigo

PLUS: An essay by critic and scholar Tiana Reid, excerpts from a 1969 interview with Sembène, and a new edition of Sembène’s 1966 novella The Money Order, on which the film is based

New cover by Ify Chiejina