Sembene! tells the story of the self-taught novelist and filmmaker Ousmane Sembène, provided by Gadjigo, who wrote Sembene's biography. Sembène transitioned from a laborer into a powerful spokesman for Africa.[3]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 91% based on 23 critics' reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10.[4]
Bilge Ebiri of Vulture included the film in a top ten list of films released in 2015, describing it as "a testament not just to the love of movies, but also to the power of movies."[5]Chaz Ebert, writing for RogerEbert.com, listed the film as her eighth favorite of the year, writing that "I could actually feel the director's passion for his filmmaking, and his respect for the people he filmed."[6]
