Out of Africa

I thank Kenneth Turan for the excellent article on African filmmaker Ousmane Sembene [“A Man of, and Inspired by, Africa,” Oct. 3]. There isn’t any director with a more noble purpose, or who has done a better job of reconciling head and heart, image and theater.

I understand Sembene prefers to have his works viewed in theaters, where people congregate for the collective experience. Unfortunately, few Americans will ever see these great films, which appear only occasionally at universities or art houses in major cities. I hold out hope that Sembene may yet reward us with video/DVD distribution, so that we may share what we have found with others.

Ken Hense

Culver City