Released by: Casque D’Or Films
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Rating: NR
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: French Audio, English Subtitles
Region Code: 1, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen
16:9 Enhanced: Yes
Special Features: Behind the Scenes Documentary, Trailers
Trailer Online: Yes

LILI AND THE BAOBAB is drama about the strength of women and family as well as the complications created by cultural differences. Directed by French filmmaker Chantal Richard, this is a piece that moves very slowly but always manages to stay on course.

French photographer, Lili (Romane Bohringer) is sent on a photo assignment to the small village of Agnam in Senegal. While there, she befriends a local girl, Aminata, who is unmarried, in her thirties, and childless—just like Lili.

At the end of her assignment, Lili returns to dreary old France, still alone and directionless in life. Upon visiting a local working man who is from Agnam, Lili learns that Aminata has had a baby on her own out of wedlock. This is a big “no no” in their culture and leaves Aminata and her baby facing banishment from the village. After learning this, Lili returns to the foreign land with hopes of helping her unlikely friend and the new baby.

LILI AND THE BAOBAB is a pleasant enough drama that tells a fresh story and does a great job of not judging. The customs of Agnam are treated with respect here. I could have seen a lesser “Western” filmmaker using the strict punishment for having a fatherless child as a way to vilify the elders of the village. Here the local traditions are just looked at as benevolent hurdles for our characters to find their way over. I also found the use of culture in the storyline refreshing. What could have been a run of the mill character drama, ends up being a thoughtful exposé of one woman desperately trying to help another, while simultaneously learning more about herself. Lili works within the confines of the foreign cultural traditions using true passion and diplomacy; never falling into the easy narrative trap of accusations, moral speeches or name calling.

In terms of acting, the lead Lili (Romane Bohringer) is the only trained actor here and she carries herself very well. The film rests firmly on her shoulders. The rest of the local African actors look, for the most part, comfortable in front of the camera. There isn’t much heavy lifting in the thespian department here. Emotionally, only Lili is needed to carry the torch.

The real star of the film though is the dusty desert landscape of Senegal. There’s a foreboding beauty to the terrain. The desert yellows and oranges contrast well with the somber greens of the French locales. The two places could not seem more different, and the production design captures that well.

There are a couple of issues I have with the film. The relationship between Lili and Aminata seems a little rushed. I can’t say that I really bought their friendship at first. There didn’t seem to be a valid enough reason for it. These are two women who don’t even speak the same language, and the next thing you know, they are buddies. I feel that a little more creativity in writing and screen time spent developing their friendship would have benefited the film as a whole. Saying that, once the dramatic structure is introduced and the final act rolls along, their friendship becomes believable enough.

Lastly, as I said before, the pacing is slow. The camerawork is very basic and, in terms of production, there is really no creative spark to the proceedings. The film is shot in a semi-documentary style. But why not take the documentary feel all the way? Where are the handheld shots? The more gritty and realistic the better for a film like this. The production style just seems somewhat flat. This flatness tends to make an already slow moving film play even slower.

In the end, LILI AND THE BAOBAB is a tender drama about the power of women and friendship. Honestly, I believe women will find more to like here than their male counterparts. Female viewers will find an easier time relating to and connecting emotionally with the characters. While a little too slow moving at times, the film’s heart always remains in the right place.

Casque D’Or Films presents the film in a reasonable transfer. However, this being such a recent film (2006), I would have thought that the transfer would look better. There is lots of grain present throughout the film. It’s not brilliant, but not horrible either. In terms of special features, a 52 minute Behind the Scenes documentary is included, entitled, JOKKANDIRAL: A HISTORY OF ALLIANCES. The doc mixes a behind the scenes structure with a brief history of Agnam and the effects brought on by the filming that took place there. Turns out, LILI director Chantal Richard and company really helped the village by shooting this film there. Makes me think more filmmakers should be brave enough to shoot films in small villages like Agnam. Their anemic economies could sure use the help. Good documentary and a great supplement to the feature.