You are here:

The Law

Name: The Law
Director: Idrissa Ouedraogo
Released: 1990
Duration: 81 min

Representation Score

5.4/10

Fair

1990

Director

Idrissa Ouedraogo

Runtime

81 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Idrissa Ouedraogo’s film is a nuanced examination of the tension between indigenous traditions and external legal systems. It presents the modern state as a potential disruptor rather than a progressive force. Though the film is culturally authentic and racially cohesive, it remains bound by the patriarchal structures of its setting. The romantic tensions are defined by existing social norms, limiting space for diverse representations. Overall, the film succeeds as a post-colonial critique, engaging deeply with issues of identity, law, and the preservation of communal autonomy.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Law have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film centers on romantic conflicts tied to traditional family and marriage commitments. It does not include any representation of non-binary gender identities or same-sex relationships within the village's social structure.

How does The Law portray gender?

Fair

The movie explores the roles and limitations placed on women within a patriarchal society. By focusing on the emotional constraints faced by women like Nogma, the film highlights how traditional social norms affect female independence.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Law?

Excellent

The film features an all-Black cast and is set in a rural area of Burkina Faso, providing a highly authentic and localized African experience. It avoids casting actors based on Western standards, emphasizing a genuine African perspective.

How does The Law represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film criticizes the imposition of Western institutions by highlighting the conflict between indigenous communal laws and state structures. It emphasizes traditional spiritual practices over organized Western religions.

Does The Law include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no significant portrayals of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that play a central role in the narrative or character development.

Present on Screen

Highly authentic and localized African experience through an all-Black cast and Burkinabé setting.
Sophisticated critique of Western legal systems and their impact on indigenous communities.
In-depth look at how traditional social norms influence female autonomy and independence.

Limited or Absent

No representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-binary gender expressions.
Little focus on characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
Narrative is tightly constrained by the patriarchal structures of the village.

Official Synopsis

Saga returns to his village after an extended absence to discover that his father has taken Nogma, Saga's promised bride, for himself. Still in love with each other, the two begin an affair, although it would be considered incestuous.

How are these scores produced? →