▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁Mal ian ▁film ▁directed ▁by ▁Sou le ym ane ▁C iss é . ▁It ▁is ▁fil med ▁in ▁the ▁B amb ara ▁and ▁F ula ▁languages , ▁and ▁is ▁based ▁on ▁a ▁legend ▁told ▁by ▁the ▁B amb ara ▁people . ▁Though ▁the ▁era ▁is ▁undefined , ▁it ▁is ▁pres umably ▁set ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 3 th ▁century ▁in ▁the ▁M ali ▁Empire ▁and ▁is ▁a ▁hero ic ▁quest ▁narr ative ▁featuring ▁magic ▁and ▁prec ogn ition . ▁ ▁It ▁stars ▁Iss ia ka ▁K ane ▁as ▁N ian ank oro , ▁a ▁young ▁African ▁man ▁who ▁poss esses ▁mag ical ▁powers . ▁N iam anto ▁San ogo ▁plays ▁N ian k oro ' s ▁father , ▁who ▁is ▁tracking ▁his ▁son ▁through ▁the ▁B amb ara , ▁Ful ani ▁and ▁Dog on ▁lands ▁of ▁West ▁Africa ▁using ▁a ▁mag ical ▁wooden ▁post ▁to ▁guide ▁him . ▁ ▁Ye elen ▁was ▁met ▁with ▁wide ▁critical ▁success , ▁and ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁J ury ▁Prize ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁C annes ▁Film ▁Festival . ▁It ▁was ▁also ▁nominated ▁for ▁the ▁Golden ▁Pal m ▁award ▁for ▁the ▁same ▁year . ▁ ▁Plot ▁N ian ank oro ' s ▁father ▁S oma ▁is ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁order ▁of ▁Kom o , ▁who ▁practice ▁magic , ▁but ▁he ▁uses ▁his ▁powers ▁for ▁self - g ain . ▁He ▁becomes ▁determined ▁to ▁kill ▁his ▁son ▁after ▁receiving ▁a ▁vision ▁that ▁his ▁son ▁will ▁cause ▁his ▁death . ▁A