the central thing about yeelen and be the fact that it be the one of the few film that actually tackle the hard topic of the importance and power of symbolism of the african mystery system . however and whereas the film start out by explain the importance of the pillar in ancient mali society and subsequently the director fail to explain that the magic be a metaphor for something more real . for those who do not know and and i be not sure the director understand this and the magic pillar in the film be actually metaphor for government power and operation in ancient africa . the movie make them out to be magical and which perhaps be a popular shorthand use in african discourse . but in the end fail to take u backstage a a way of demystify african discourse . the same pillar system of symbolism be use in egypt and be later adopt by christian and as well the freemason . and the movie should have try hard to reveal the real reason and thinking behind the symbolism and magic . the movie only deal with the power metaphor concern the pillar a if they be magical property only . i think that the treatment of the character and their discourse and social relation and be beautiful and authentic . and in fact unmatched by any of the usual hollywood fare . american film maker could learn a lot watch yeelen . most contemporary african movie and influence by american and european film and tend to be mislead in their interpretation of african community relation . however and the director deliberately complicate the film when and by try to achieve suspense and he keep viewer guess about the chronology of event and drop new character into scene without introduce them and only for you to discover the identity of the character several scene later . this be very distract . moreover and many extra overact and and sometimes the tempo and rhythm of the film be off ( partly an editing problem perhaps ) . but not just the extra . there be a really weak scene in the film and where the main character be flee through the savanna be badly act . and badly edit . it could have use a night scene and a scene show a desperately thirsty and hungry fugitive scouring for water . instead and the character encounter no real hardship even though he be appear to be stagger around ineffectually and and even appear to outrun people on horse who catch him supposedly try to steal cow . really odd and ineffective scene . i would have cut it out altogether . what the film do have that work incredibly well and be that it tell a powerful and complicated story and and succeed in simplify it . the landscape in the film be breathtaking . a big budget for choreography and set would have resolve some of the weakness . for example and the war scene involve only dozen of people . what if there have be hundred or thousand of extra and deck out in authentic ancient african military gear . or if the king actually have a court and palace and a be indeed the case in ancient mali and instead of sit under a tree . thanks and kashagama .