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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Trying out the turf ... Council Corner: Addressing Ashland's asphalt problem ... Walking tours take a trip back through time ... Our View: Trying out the turf ... Council Corner: Addressing Ashland's asphalt problem ... Walking tours take a trip back through time ... Movie review: Hope shines through in 'Timbuktu' Comment By Al Alexander The Patriot Ledger DailyTidings.com By Al Alexander The Patriot Ledger Posted Feb. 19, 2015 at 2:16 PM By Al Alexander The Patriot Ledger Posted Feb. 19, 2015 at 2:16 PM » Social News We hear a lot about Islamic fundamentalists terrorizing people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, but seldom does the media acknowledge the atrocities taking place in sub-Saharan Africa, where the al-Qaeda-backed Ansar Dine is cruelly enforcing sharia law in northern Mali. The Oscar-nominated “Timbuktu” aims to rectify that with its powerful story about a city beset by AK-47-toting bullies shooting up Sufi shrines and punishing citizens for such mundane activities as playing music or kicking a soccer ball. The images are haunting, especially the sight of two alleged adulterers being buried up to their necks in sand before being stoned to death. Or a beautiful girl with an equally beautiful voice being lashed 80 times simply for daring to sing. But what sticks with you longest in writer-director Abderrahmane Sissako’s devastating portrait of brutal, didactic rule is the indestructibility of the human spirit. You can take away a kid’s soccer ball, but you can’t destroy his ability to play the game using an imaginary one. It’s moments like that that lend hope amid the intense anger induced by Sissako’s film, which centers on the affect the Ansar Dine is having on a desert-dwelling family that foolishly believes it is far removed from the fray in nearby Timbuktu. While conceding that they miss the neighbors who’ve fled for refugee camps, cattle-herder Kidane (Ibrahim Ahmed), his wife, Satima (Toulou Kiki), and their precious 12-year-old daughter, Toya (Layla Walet Mohamed), are determined to enjoy their blissful existence, ignoring laws like those that require women to always have their heads and hands cloaked. Fearless, Satima even stands up to the amourous rebel leader, Abdelkrim (Abel Jafri), whenever he comes calling, usually when Kidane is conveniently away. But fate is fickle, and Kidane’s family soon finds itself in the thick of the mayhem. How their troubles, and those of many of the townsfolk, are resolved will deeply trouble you. But they will also awaken you to a screwed-up world where armed thugs inflict their lawless reign in the name of religion. As the local imam (Adel Mahmoud Cherif) bravely says to the terrorists, “Where is God in all this?” Where, indeed! Movie review: “TIMBUKTU.” Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements. Cast includes Ibrahim Ahmed, Toulou Kiki and Layla Walet Mohamed. Written and directed by Abderrahmane Sissako. Grade: A. By Al Alexander The Patriot Ledger DailyTidings.com By Al Alexander The Patriot Ledger Posted Feb. 19, 2015 at 2:16 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501