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Search 713 spoiler-free recommendations from 1916 to 2026. Filter by the night you want—not the list you’re supposed to finish.

Direct film viewShowing master rank #526 on its own—not above the ranking.
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DirectorAll directors

Most represented · 6+ films

More recurring directors · 3–5 films54
All directors · surname A–Z438
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Most represented actors

Big Three membership
Major award winners

1 selected film

Master Rank balances Greatness, Engagement, and Ease. Sort by Greatness for the artistic-canon view.

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View Yeelen film page
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

A young man with magical powers journeys to his uncle to request help in fighting his sorcerer father.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

Young Bambara initiate Nianankoro flees with mother Mâh after sorcerer father Soma decides his son's power threatens him. Traveling across Mali to seek uncle Djigui, Nianankoro encounters rival communities, slavery, love, and knowledge carried through sacred objects.

Why it belongs

In Yeelen, Cissé gives Bambara cosmology elemental cinematic presence through sun, water, landscape, ritual sound, and a father-son conflict over power's use.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

The journey treats inherited knowledge as ethically contested. A magic pestle, carved staff, desert light, flowing robes, fire, water, and Salif Keita's music make spiritual forces physical within social geography.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Cannes1 win1987 · official festival record ↗

Plus 1 additional win

No headline-category win to name

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for
Film Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 250—AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness9.0
Engagement8.1
Ease7.4

Bambara · Not Rated
Narrative Feature
Mood: Absorbing & Reflective