Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!
by Alex Billington
July 24, 2026
Source: YouTube
“You shouldn’t worry, Samba loves you.” 🇧🇫 Film Movement has debuted their brand new trailer for the 4K restoration of a 1992 African movie titled Samba Traoré, by acclaimed filmmaker Idrissa Ouedraogo. The film originally comes from the country of Burkina Faso and it played at the 1993 Berlin Film Festival, where it won a Silver Bear prize for “the honest depiction of ordinary life.” Samba returns to his village flush with new funds. Soon enough he manages to charm the beautiful Saratou into marrying him and, along with another friend, builds the first bar their village has ever seen. But his conscience keeps nagging him and the police are on the lookout for the “gas station murderer.” Starring Bakary Sangaré, Mariam Kaba, and Abdoulaye Komboudri. It’s one of Luca Guadagnino’s favorite films – he’s quoted in the trailer. Restored in 4K, the 35mm original image and sound negative were digitized in high quality, digitally restored, and a new color grading was applied by Cinegrell. The original elements are preserved at the Cinematheque Suisse on behalf of Waka Films. I’ve never seen this – looks damn good! Now that it’s finally restored & updated in 4K, it’s time to catch up with this one and spread the word on it. Especially with Guadagnino’s endorsement.
Here’s the new 4K restoration trailer (+ posters) for Idrissa Ouedraogo’s film Samba Traoré, on YouTube:
The only surviving accomplice of a gas station robbery gone bad, Samba Traoré (Bakary Sangaré) flees the scene of the crime with a suitcase full of cash for his native village in rural Burkina Faso. There he attempts to make a fresh start while hiding how he came by his newfound fortune from those around him. Despite marrying the beautiful Saratou, earning the affection of her ten-year-old son, and opening a bar with his childhood friend, Samba’s newfound happiness is put to the test as he struggles to cope with the moral crisis of his crimes. Samba Traoré is directed by Burkinabé filmmaker Idrissa Ouedraogo, his fifth feature film at the time after Karim and Sala (1991) and before making The Heart’s Cry (1994) and a few others. The screenplay is written by Idrissa Ouedraogo, Santiago Amigorena, Jacques Arhex. Also produced by Ouedraogo. The film premiered at the 1993 Berlin Film Festival where it also won a Silver Bear Award. It originally opened in the US in September 1993. Film Movement will re-release Ouedraogo’s Samba Traoré film in 4K in select US theaters starting August 28th, 2026. For more info + details visit their official site.
