Waiting for Happiness

Waiting for Happiness is a poignant and contemplative 2002 drama directed by Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako. The film stars Khatra Ould Abder Kader, Maata Ould Mohamed Abeid, and Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed in significant roles. The film has been highly appreciated for its poetic rendering of quiet lives and powerful contemplation of human bonds and cultural roots.

Set in a windswept coastal town of West Africa, the story primarily revolves around the character of Abdallah, adroitly portrayed by Khatra Ould Abder Kader. Abdallah, a young boy who has returned home after a long time, is waiting for his car ride to Europe. During his stay, he encounters various striking characters in a town that is literally at the crossroads — between past and future, tradition and change.

At the heart of the movie is the bond between Abdallah and his mother, portrayed by Maata Ould Mohamed Abeid. Throughout the film, their relationship serves as a symbol of the ever-present push and pull between the lure of new opportunities far from home and the deep-rooted connections that tie us to our culture and history. Abdallah's stories from abroad and his yearning to leave contrast sharply with his mother's desire to embrace tradition and stay connected to her roots.

Veteran actor Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed delivers an outstanding performance as the elderly electrician, a wise and patient mentor who teaches Abdallah how to wire houses. The metaphor of lighting up the houses bears a striking resemblance to the illumination of wisdom and the network of connectivity that binds humanity. The electrician's character is symbolic of the thread that links us all, vividly connecting the past, present, and future.

Director Sissako takes us on a sensory journey through stunningly beautiful scenes carefully woven with vivid colors, rhythmic sounds, and haunting silence. The film unfolds at a dreamlike pace, suggesting the slow flow of life in a town disconnected from the hustle and bustle of modernity. It's the stretching silence, the melancholy of waiting, and the hushed intimacy of ordinary lives that hold the audience's attention and evoke deep emotions.

What is addressed in Waiting for Happiness is the universal feeling of ‘in-betweenness’: the state where one is neither completely detached from their home nor truly connected to foreign lands. We see this sense of disconnect manifested powerfully in Abdallah’s character, who has forgotten his native language and is now clumsily trying to regain it. It is this struggle to hold on to the roots whilst being pulled by the allure of the new world that forms the crux of the movie.

The movie comes full circle with powerful scenes symbolizing transience and hugely impactful visuals capturing the predicament of preserving our cultural heritage despite the unstoppable march towards global modernity. The narrative is not linear or plot-driven but is an amalgamation of numerous subtly interconnected events, memories, day-to-day experiences, and lingering emotions.

The film is a unique lyrical meditation on the nature of waiting as life simultaneously propels forward and pulls backward. The title "Waiting for Happiness" serves not just as a descriptor of the characters' states of mind, but also poses a reflective question on the universal pursuit for happiness and the transient essence of human life.

By no means a traditional narrative cinema, Waiting for Happiness is less about what happens and more about how and why it happens. It invites the audience on a gentle journey through time to leave them with lingering thoughts on life, identity, globalization, and the universal search for happiness. It is observant, introspective, and mesmerizingly beautiful, largely due to the masterful cinematic skills of director Abderrahmane Sissako.

In conclusion, Waiting for Happiness is a striking testament to the evolving world of African cinema. It seamlessly blends reality and dreams, and together with its stunning cinematography, leaves its viewers with a sense of lingering melancholy and profound contemplation on the bittersweet joys of life and the eternal wait for happiness. A must-watch for cinephiles interested in thought-provoking, poignant, and aesthetically stunning narratives.