A Journey Through Sight and Sound’s Top 100 Films and Their African Complements

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Sight & Sound’s survey of the top 100 films is known for its influence and prestige and serves as a compass guiding film enthusiasts to the most exceptional works of cinematic artistry across the globe. It is through the lens of the esteemed list that you are invited to an exploration of African cinema, via a curated selection of African complements.

To make this journey more digestible and engaging — and to allow me the time necessary to research and select the most sensible titles — I’ll be exploring these films in bite-sized chunks of 5 to 10 at a time per day, launching on May 31, 2023.

So let’s traverse the cinematic landscapes of Africa, the resonance between Sight & Sound’s revered classics and the often unexplored films that have emerged from the African continent, as a showcase of the universal power of cinema across borders and cultures.

For the African titles that are already on the Sight and Sound list, I will suggest a non-African equivalent.

“Mother of George” is on Paramount+, Kanopy, Tubi, and Hulu.

Love Brewed in an African Pot” isn’t readily accessible.

6. “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) and “Yeelen” (1987): Finding an African cinema complement to “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) is a challenging task, given the unique nature of Stanley Kubrick’s film — a science fiction landmark that explores themes of evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrial life, all of which are not commonly addressed in African cinema.

However, if we consider the film’s exploration of human evolution and its philosophical undertones, one potential complement could be “Yeelen” (1987). Directed by Souleymane Cissé from Mali, “Yeelen” is a film steeped in West African folklore and mythology. It tells the story of a young man with magical powers on a journey to confront his father. While it doesn’t deal with space exploration or technology, “Yeelen” shares with “2001: A Space Odyssey” a deep interest in human nature, destiny, and the forces that shape us.

Another potential complement could be “Pumzi” (2009), a Kenyan science fiction short film directed by Wanuri Kahiu. “Pumzi” imagines a dystopian future where water is scarce, and humanity lives in enclosed communities. While not as grand in scope as “2001: A Space Odyssey”, “Pumzi” shares its interest in imagining future directions for humanity and the ethical questions that arise from technological advancement.

You can stream “Yeelen” (1987) on Kanopy, Plex, and filmingo. You can also rent or purchase it on some platforms.

7. “Beau Travail” (1998) and “Camp de Thiaroye” (1988): A film that might complement Claire Denis’ classic directly in terms of its focus on the military and the psychological impacts of colonialism on the colonizers, is “Black and White in Color” (1976). This Ivorian film, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, is a satirical take on the absurdity of war, set during World War I in a French colony in Africa. However, Annaud isn’t an African filmmaker; necessary for this experiment.

A potential complement directed by an African filmmaker could be “Camp de Thiaroye” (1988), a Senegalese film directed by Ousmane Sembene and Thierno Faty Sow. The film is based on a historical event, the Thiaroye massacre in 1944, where African soldiers who fought for France in World War II were killed by the French army. The film explores themes of colonialism, racism, and the exploitation of African soldiers by the French military, providing a more direct critique of colonialism and its impacts on both the colonizers and the colonized.

“Camp de Thiaroye” is available to stream on YouTube.

8. “Mulholland Dr.” (2001) and “Sankofa” (1993): Like Kubrick’s “2001,” finding an African cinema complement to “Mulholland Dr.” (2001) is a challenging task, given the uniqueness of David Lynch’s film. Its complex narrative structure, dreamlike sequences, and exploration of identity and reality are not common themes in African cinema.

However, one potential complement could be “Sankofa” (1993). Directed by Haile Gerima (Ethiopia), “Sankofa” is a film that explores the theme of identity through the lens of a self-absorbed African American model on a photo shoot at the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana (historically used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade), who is transported back in time to a plantation in the West Indies where she becomes a slave.

The film’s exploration of the past and its impact on the present, as well as its critique of historical amnesia, could provide an interesting counterpoint to “Mulholland Dr.’s” exploration of identity and reality.

You can stream “Sankofa” on Netflix. You can also stream it on Plex, Hulu, and Prime Video.

9. “Man with a Movie Camera” (1929) and “Sembène!” (2015): Both films are meta-cinematic documentaries that celebrate the power and potential of cinema as a means of expression, edutainment, and social change. Both films also use montage, animation, music, and humor to create a dynamic and engaging portrait of their respective subjects: the city life of Moscow in the 1920s and the life and work of Ousmane Sembène, widely regarded as “the father of African cinema.”

However, they differ in their approach and subject matter. “Man with a Movie Camera” is an experimental film that uses no actors, nor does it have a traditional narrative; “Sembène!” is a biographical film that uses archival footage, interviews, and dramatizations to narrate Sembène’s personal and artistic journey.

But ultimately, both films share a love for cinema and its potential.

The film is available to stream on Netflix.

10. “Singin’ in the Rain” (1951) and “Yaaba” (1989): Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, the classic American musical comedy known for its memorable songs, choreography, and depiction of Hollywood during the transition from silent films to “talkies,” celebrates the joy of performance and the magic of movies.

Another challenge, but its African twin could be “Yaaba” (1989) by Idrissa Ouédraogo from Burkina Faso. While it’s not a musical (African film musicals are not as common), it shares a similar sense of joy and a focus on the power of storytelling.

“Yaaba” unfolds in the spectacular landscapes of rural Burkina Faso in a mythical time when everyday life was still unspoiled by colonialism. It tells the story of a friendship between two children, Bila and Nopoko, and an old woman shunned as a witch by the rest of the community. Unafraid of her, twelve-year-old Bila calls her “Yaaba” (grandmother) and learns the value of tolerance and what it means to be a human being.

Ouédraogo, who shot the film in his own village, said that it was “based on tales of my childhood and on that kind of bedtime storytelling we hear just before falling asleep.” It’s as visually striking and enchanting as its Sight & Sound complement.

While “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Yaaba” are different in genre and style, they both share a love for storytelling and a celebration of human connection. They also both provide a window into a specific time and place, whether it’s Hollywood in the late 1920s or rural pre-colonial Burkina Faso.

You can stream Yaaba on YouTube, BetaSeries, and Filmingo.