Film: "Burkinabe Rising"
An inspiring portrait of a vibrant community affecting political change through music, art and creative activism.
A small, landlocked country in West Africa, Burkina Faso is home to a vibrant community of artists and engaged citizens, who provide an inspiring example not only to the rest of Africa but also to the rest of the world. Celebrating a panorama of creative resistance, this uplifting documentary follows a remarkable group of activists, from rappers and graffiti artists to dancers and slam poets, who use their art forms to speak out against injustice.
Through music, film, ecology, visual art and architecture, the people featured in this film are carrying on the revolutionary spirit of former leader Thomas Sankara. After assuming the presidency in 1983, Sankara was killed in a 1987 coup d'état led by his friend and close advisor Blaise Compaoré, who subsequently ruled the country as an autocrat for 27 years. In October 2014, a massive popular insurrection led to his removal.
In the fall of 2016, director Iara Lee traveled throughout the country to profile this remarkable cast of artist-activists, who together prove the spirit of resistance in Burkina Faso is mightier than ever.
D: Iara Lee, Burkina Faso, subtitled, 2017, 1h12m
