Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Yaaba

1989 | 90 min | Family, Drama

Saturday Specialearly rating

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite almost no lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
If you count yourself among anyone who loves a world with magic in it and a family movie night, this one's for you. Its magic has rules, and the story plays by them.
The mood
Feel-good.
The pace
Bright and bouncy, at 1 hr 30 min. An easy one to fit in on a school night.
What might put you off
  • No age rating on record, so check it first for young kids.
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Probably not for a grown-ups-only night in.

A small African village. The story focuses on Bila, a ten year old boy who befriends an old woman, Sana. Everybody calls her 'Witch' but Bila himself calls her 'Yaaba' (grandmother). When Bila's cousin Nopoko gets sick it is Sana's medicine that saves her.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    86% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsWeak

    0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $55K worldwide on a $750K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 3K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo

  • Fatimata SangaYaaba
  • Noufou OuédraogoBila
  • Roukietou BarryNopoko
  • Adama OuédraogoKougri
  • Amadé ToureTibo
  • Sibidou OuédraogoPoko
  • Adame SidibeRazougou
  • Kinda MoumouniFinse
  • Assita OuedraogoKoudi
  • Zenabou OuedraogoPegda