Abderrahmane Sissako speaking about the film

The story of humanity is made up of encounters. No humanity has created itself alone. It's all about travels and encounters. The desire to travel is the nature of man. He continues discussing the obstacles that beset an African wishing to travel to places in comparison to the relative freedom of European counterparts. The image of the drowned would-be migrant from the film who posed for photos with the Eiffel Tower as a background comes back to mind. Sissako says further of this image the body washed ashore is a symbol of the closure of a rich and powerful world. A world which becomes increasingly proud and closes itself to the 'other'. You close yourself to the one who is weak.

When a child dreams of something, it needs to be possible even if it doesn't happen. Khatra's dream of becoming an electrician and his pleasure in finding the blue overall that sets him on the way.

As a symbol of Africa Maata carrying the light ... even when we have nothing we can give still.

I found this film hard on first watch and kept being pulled back into it by the sheer beauty of the place and photography, the stories of the people and the music. As with Bamako Sissako shows the dignity and value of life amidst an African village that gives back to Africa its worth. As he says in the same interview that I quote from above Africa is not only a continent in exile but also a land where people emigrate to. He is a compelling and intelligent film maker.

I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl