---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One has to choose between engaging in…"
description: "\"One has to choose between engaging in stylistic research or the mere recording of facts. I feel that a filmmaker must go beyond the recording of facts...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/djibril-diop-mambety-86119_audience_one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-st_1244762.jpg"
---

#  One has to choose between engaging in stylistic research…

![“One has to choose between engaging in stylistic research or the mere recording of facts. I feel that a filmmaker must go beyond the recording of facts. Moreover, I believe that Africans, in particular, must reinvent cinema. It will be a difficult task because our viewing audience is used to a…” quote by Djibril Diop Mambety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/djibril-diop-mambety-86119_audience_one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-st_1244762.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/djibril-diop-mambety-86119_audience_one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-st_1244762.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/djibril-diop-mambety-86119_audience_one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-st_1244762.jpg)

> “One has to choose between engaging in stylistic research or the mere recording of facts. I feel that a filmmaker must go beyond the recording of facts. Moreover, I believe that Africans, in particular, must reinvent cinema. It will be a difficult task because our viewing audience is used to a specific film language, but a choice has to be made: either one is very popular and one talks to people in a simple and plain manner, or else one searches for an African film language that would exclude chattering and focus more on how to make use of visuals and sounds.”

[Djibril Diop Mambety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djibril-diop-mambety/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Filmmakers must decide between popular, simple storytelling and developing a distinct African cinematic language focused on visual and auditory innovation.

**In simple terms:** Choose between mass appeal and artistic identity.

Key Takeaway

Balance audience needs with cultural expression.

Themes

film culture identity innovation

Mood

thoughtful inspired

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- film festivals
- educational workshops
- community screenings

Key Concepts

cinema theory visual storytelling

Questions to Reflect On

- How can African cinema attract viewers while staying authentic?
- What visual techniques convey cultural stories?

A Different Perspective

Prioritizing uniqueness may limit audience reach.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-film-3899512/) [Africans Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africans-particular-3899515/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Africans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-africans-3899514/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult task](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-task/) [Difficult tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-tasks/) [Engaging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaging/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-language-790179/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Stylistic Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stylistic-research-3899513/) [Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Very popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-popular/) [Visuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visuals/)

## Related quotes

> [“I still worry about Africa, we are slaves to western and Eastern Brands and we do not cherish and love our own. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tare-munzara/i-still-worry-about-africa-we-are-slaves-to-western-and-eastern/)

[Tare Munzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tare-munzara/)

> [African film makers are scraping by on a mere pittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/african-film-makers-are-scraping-by-on-a-mere-pittance/)

[Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/)

> [If African film makers had one-tenth the amount commanded by film makers the world over - even the amount used by so-called shoestring film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/if-african-film-makers-had-one-tenth-the-amount-commanded-by-film/)

[Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/)

> [The film language is still in development and the traditional dialogue is the biggest problem because nobody knows how to interpret it in 3D…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timur-bekmambetov/the-film-language-is-still-in-development-and-the-traditional/)

[Timur Bekmambetov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timur-bekmambetov/)

> [I look at a film as just a film; language doesn't really matter. I just don't want to limit myself to a particular language,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shriya-pilgaonkar/i-look-at-a-film-as-just-a-film-language-doesn-t-really-matter-i-just/)

[Shriya Pilgaonkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shriya-pilgaonkar/)

> [It's not difficult to balance both Bollywood and South. I would not be able to select between either one and say that I prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/it-s-not-difficult-to-balance-both-bollywood-and-south-i-would-not-be/)

[Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/)

> [I really want to do a film in another language. My dad's from Germany, so it'd be really cool to do a film in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-really-want-to-do-a-film-in-another-language-my-dad-s-from-germany/)

[Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/)

> [I stole a ton of film language from Steven Soderbergh and 'The Limey.' It's the definition of elliptical. It was the first movie I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-stole-a-ton-of-film-language-from-steven-soderbergh-and-the-limey/)

[Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/)

> [I think, if allowed, 3D is a new film language. I can have more adventure exploring a new media, that's very exciting. 2D we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-think-if-allowed-3d-is-a-new-film-language-i-can-have-more/)

[Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/)

> [I definitely have moments in my life where I discovered a film, and the language of the film itself spoke to me in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-miller/i-definitely-have-moments-in-my-life-where-i-discovered-a-film-and/)

[Bennett Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-miller/)

> [When you act, you want to emote and think in that language. I don't enjoy the process of doing a film in a language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suriya/when-you-act-you-want-to-emote-and-think-in-that-language-i-don-t/)

[Suriya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suriya/)

> [I like language, and in film, language is diluted by the visuals and the music. Theatre is what I was trained for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-like-language-and-in-film-language-is-diluted-by-the-visuals-and/)

[Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/)

> [I love the idea of using film language similarly to how musicians use music - combining images and sounds in a way that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-love-the-idea-of-using-film-language-similarly-to-how-musicians-use/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [I think that every film should have its own structure, and that's the beauty of film language - is that we get to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lindstrom/i-think-that-every-film-should-have-its-own-structure-and-that-s-the/)

[Brian Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lindstrom/)

> [Film is the only language I speak, and I have been lucky to be involved in some great stories. You don't want to preach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-johnson/film-is-the-only-language-i-speak-and-i-have-been-lucky-to-be/)

[Clark Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-johnson/)

## More by Djibril Diop Mambety

> [The word griot...is the word for what I do and the role that the filmmaker has in society...the griot is a messenger of one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djibril-diop-mambety/the-word-griot-is-the-word-for-what-i-do-and-the-role-that-the/)

[Djibril Diop Mambety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djibril-diop-mambety/)

> [Cinema is magic in the service of dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djibril-diop-mambety/cinema-is-magic-in-the-service-of-dreams/)

[Djibril Diop Mambety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djibril-diop-mambety/)

[Explore all 3 Djibril Diop Mambety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djibril-diop-mambety/)

## More Audience quotes

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/)

[Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/)

> [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

> [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/)

[Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/)

> [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/)

[Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/)

> [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/)

[An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/)

> [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/)

[Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/)

> [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/)

[Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/)

> [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/)

[Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/)

> [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/)

[Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/)

> [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/)

[Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/)

> [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/)

[Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/)

> [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/)

[John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/)

[Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "One has to choose between engaging in stylistic research or the mere recording of facts. I feel that a filmmaker must go beyond the recording of facts. Moreover, I believe that Africans, in particular, must reinvent cinema. It will be a difficult task because our viewing audience is used to a specific film language, but a choice has to be made: either one is very popular and one talks to people in a simple and plain manner, or else one searches for an African film language that would exclude chattering and focus more on how to make use of visuals and sounds.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Djibril Diop Mambety"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djibril-diop-mambety/one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-stylistic-research-or-the-mere/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Audience"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djibril-diop-mambety/one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-stylistic-research-or-the-mere/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/djibril-diop-mambety-86119_audience_one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-st_1244762.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/djibril-diop-mambety-86119_audience_one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-st_1244762.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/djibril-diop-mambety-86119_audience_one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-st_1244762.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“One has to choose between engaging in stylistic research or the mere recording of facts. I feel that a…” — Djibril Diop Mambety",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Djibril Diop Mambety",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djibril-diop-mambety/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "One has to choose between engaging...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djibril-diop-mambety/one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-stylistic-research-or-the-mere/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djibril-diop-mambety/one-has-to-choose-between-engaging-in-stylistic-research-or-the-mere/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
