Timbuktu 2014 / A skillful, stunning depiction of the absurdities of occupation

When a city is taken over by a militant group hoping to impose their standards of religion upon it, the situation can be quite depressing to talk about. The inherent danger to their lives, as well as the arbitariness of the changes, would undoubtedly feel terrible, yet, despite the horrifying events, 2014 Malian drama Timbuktu still spots some humor through the simple and straightforward way it depicts the occupying force– the rules they enforce on others, but not on themselves, and sometimes in silly ways that doesn’t even make sense. Timbuktu doesn’t mine the real life occupation for melodrama, but the contrast through which they depict the group versus the townspeople just living their lives highlights the foolishness of imposing an ideology to snuff out everyday culture.