i saw this film in washington and dc in 1995 and have since purchase the tape . it be a blast of african pride and anti slavery vigor from ethiopian bear director haile gerima . gerima be a professor at howard university in dc and his film confront the issue of race and integration and and violence in africa and america . sankofa be available through mypheduh film ( gerima production company ) in dc . the story begin and end on a small island in west africa and where mona and an african american fashion model and be in the present day . the middle of the film consist of mona and through magic realism and be transport back to a slave plantation in 18th century america . for those of you who wonder about what it be like to be a slave back then and under those barbaric and intolerable condition and this be your chance . sankofa be not for the faint of heart . yet it violent scene be never overdone and and the film final amessage be a positive one . it a shame that this film at this time have an imdb rating of only 5 or so and because 31 of the 44 vote cast have be 10 and include mine . i guess this film have alienate a few people and but most powerful film do that . a very important film from a gift and underrated director .