Burkinabe hyphenate Idrissa Ouedraogo (“Tilai,” “Samba Traore”) continues a career-long exploration of African tradition with the sweeping revenge drama “Anger of the Gods.” Concerning the generational machinations of a power-hungry tribal leader, pic is on par with helmer’s best work and will thus be in great demand at specialty and general fests prior to selected arthouse runs and niche success in ancillary.
In the Burkina Faso of the mid-1800s (then called Mossi), brothers Tanga and Halyare vie for power as their father lies dying. The boorish Tanga wins and takes villager Rasmane’s betrothed, Awa, for his own. When their subsequent child, Salam, proves to be Rasmane’s, Halyare coaches the boy in combat in anticipation of Tanga’s pre-ordained wrath. Vet helmer Ouedraogo, whose recent contribution to the portmanteau pic “11’09″01 — September 11” was a deft mix of humor and drama, punches up the latter here but provides flashes of the former, tinged with cultural mysticism in later reels: “Never worry about what others are thinking,” goes pic’s moral, “always persuade others to worry about what you think.” Tech package is pro. Pic was shot near Ouedraogo’s birthplace.
