Malian film TIMBUKTU-Scorchingly Beautiful, Searingly Brutal Life Under Islamic Rule

Dir./screenwriter Abderrahmane Sissako's (b. Mauritania) stunningly beautiful film TIMBUKTU is shot amongst the sand dunes of W. Africa & city built of blood-red clay structures.  It is a French-Mauritanian drama filmed near TIMBUKTU in W. Africa.  It has been nominated for this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Film.  The nomadic & city dwellers serenic lives become Hell under the newly arrived Islamic forces (2012.)  The armed Jihadists continuously add & enforce new regulations on every aspect of the locals lives: no music, no soccer, no smoking, no sitting outside their homes, women's bodies must be totally covered at all times.  The Jihadists justify their barbaric actions all in the name of Allah.  Women are forced to wed their fighters.  There are lashings for singing and stonings for supposed adultery.  Their laws need not amongst themselves. Their misrepresentation of justice is swift & barbaric.  The stoning of a couple buried in sand up to their heads is horrific.  The whipping of a woman for her beautiful singing is painful to behold.  She sings during her beating which is both heartbreaking & inspiring.  A scene of a group of young men playing soccer with an imaginary ball is majestic & mesmerizing. The local Imam speaks out against their oppressors to no avail.  Every freedom & joy is stripped away; robbing life of any meaning.  The film begins & ends with a beautiful gazelle fleeing from Jihadists firing from their jeep.  Their goal," not to kill the animal but to wear her out."  The dazzling appeal of this remarkably film intensifies its harshness.  It is a powerful & admirable work.  It is also a very difficult film to view.