Once again Father Geek is here with a great Africa-AICN column from Dr. SOTHA for all of you on Friday morning. This one's chuck full of fantastic film titles to pester your local Video store managers about, and if you know people on the staffs of your local film festivals print these out and shove it in their hands... tell them to book some of these... or you'll start sticking pins in dolls by the light of the full moon...
DR.SOTHA here in trauma ward unit 16 for the 16th edition of Africa-AICN.
You come across omens like that all the time on the battlefields of surgery.
Why just the other day a patient's spinal chord began to flesh out reptilian
scales on the very same day that I conducted groundbreaking tests on pirahna
DNA. Coincidence? I don't think so.
Right, I'd like all you amphibious creatures to send me your fungus
specimens to africaaicn@hotmail.com ...
Nurse, hot damn the pads are electrical shocks, not breast reduction noids.
SOUTH AFRICA
Right, I'd like all you amphibious creatures to send me your fungus
specimens to africaaicn@hotmail.com ...
Nurse, hot damn the pads are electrical shocks, not breast reduction noids.
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
* The MOLWENI TOWNSHIP FILM FESTIVAL & TOURS is an innovative cultural tourism and exhibition project that creates a platform to exhibit the work and talents of township based filmmakers to the broader community of Cape Town,as well as international visitors to our city. The Film Festival will be run at a variety of venues including the SA Museum, St Francis in Langa, the Bonteheuwel Multi-Purpose Centre and the Baxter Theatre. Come meet the filmmakers, each screening includes a Q & A and panel discussion - refreshments offered at specified screenings. On the slate is the World Premier of 'Tomorrow's Heroes', a groundbreaking 52 min documentary dealing with the heart wrenching realities of youth and gangs on the Cape Flats. Also in the line up is 'Mamela Ekapa', an exciting compilation of short films made by the young black voices in the Cape's industry. There will also be a special Heritage Day screening of 'Guguletu Seven', a courageous film that confronts South Africa's dirty past and unravels the secrets behind the state engineered massacre of seven young Guguletu cadres in 1983. Sports fans are invited to the 'Blood and Guts' screening which tells the real story of black rugby in South Africa. African Traditional Religion is explored in "Isibande", and "Nokhwezi's Story" is an inspirational educational drama that highlights the importance of regular pap smears through the story of an ordinary Khayelitsha woman. For more info about the Film Festival screenings programme or the Township Film Tours contact Ntombi or Martina on Tel: 021-9331514 or Mail Here .
* In its first week of release, Columbia's "Hollow Man" has made R1 667 978 at the South African box office, making it the top earner for the week 8 - 14 September. The Ben Stiller / Edward Norton / Jenna Elfman comedy, "Keeping The Faith", is at number 2, followed by "Big Momma's House", "U-571" and "Road Trip". Gone in 60 Seconds is still in the top 10. (.and the American stranglehold continues - DR. SOTHA)
* AFM Lighting are presenting the launch of South Africa's newest Film and Television Studio Complex Opening Party Thursday 21st September 6:30pm - midnight Gold Island Studios 79 Reedbuck Crescent Corporate Park Olifantsfontein. The move is set to give African and International filmmakers a platform in which to showcase their flexibilities in the production process. This significant investment on AFM's part re-affirms its confidence in the growth of the South African film industry.
NORTH AFRICA
* The Pan African Film & Arts Festival was held over a month ago. Look out for these films that were showcased they all sound interesting:
"Orfeu" Brazil 112 minutes Director: Carlos Diegues In a magical tale of passion and danger, love and death set in fantastic Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval. Director Carlos Diegues retells the story of
"Black Orpheus" from his uniquely Brazilian point of view. (Coffin Joe be on the look out - DR. SOTHA) "Kirikou and the Sorceress" France, 70 minutes Director: Michel Ocelot A beautifully animated retelling of an ancient African tale. The tiny baby Kirikou can walk, talk and ask questions from the day he is born.
"The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun" Senegal 45 minutes Director: Djbril Diop Mambety Sili, a young handicapped girl, is determined to make a better life for herself and her grandmother. Life is hard on the streets of Dakar and selling the newspaper "Sun" is a competitive business.
"W/ Le Franc" Senegal, 45 minutes Director: Djibril Diop Mambety The poignant and humorous story of a down and out musician who wins the lottery. But before he can redeem his ticket and collect his fortune he has to solve a huge problem.
"Chikin Biznis: The Whole Story" South Africa, 91 minutes Director: Ntshaveni wa Luruli A middle-aged frustrated Sipho quits his job and starts his own business only to have his sweet talk, mischievous banter and less than legit business deals ruffle a few feathers in the Soweto business scene
"Unbowed" US, 120 minutes Director: Nanci Rossov A provocative drama of forbidden love between a spirited Black female student and a defiant Indian warrior set against the rigid society of a southern Negro college in the late 1890s. Cast includes Chuma Hunter-Gault, Ron Glass, and the late Michelle Thomas.
"Ritual" US, 80 minutes Director: Stanley Bennett Clay Wealthy Leon Becker (Clarence Williams III) has all the trappings of the good life--a beautiful home in Malibu, a lovely, wife (Denise Nicholas), a prodigy son (Shawn Michael Howard) and a beautiful daughter (Angelle Brooks). (Recommended for an adult audience only. - Don't let Jack Valenti hear you say that - DR. SOTHA)
"The War on Drugs-Winners and Losers" Netherlands, 90 minutes Director: Frank Wiering Every second $630 is spent by the US government to fight the war on drugs. The war rages fiercely, but after several years and the criminalization of a generation, who is winning? A hard-hitting Dutch documentary.
"Dancehall Queen" Jamaica, 100 minutes Director: Don Letts & Rick Elgood In the gritty world of the Kingston ghetto, there are few ways out. When Marcia, a humble street vendor struggling to survive as a single mother, discovers the world of "Dancehall", she finds more than great music and hot relationships.
"Une Couleur Café" (A Man in Trouble) Ivory Coast,105 minutes Director: Henri Duparc An immigrant living in France faces a comedy of errors when he takes a second lawful wife while on holiday in Africa.
"Comedia Infantil" Mozambique/Sweden 92 minutes Director: Solveig Nordlund Nelio, a little boy, loses his entire family in the Mozambique war. He is taken to a training camp for young soldiers but manages to escape.
"Driving Miss Crazy" UK/Dominica, Short Film Director: Treva Etienne The psychological journey of a young woman waiting for her date to arrive. As night falls, loneliness unfolds--obsession creeps in.
"And Still I Rise" UK/Nigeria, Director: Ngozi Onwurah Dark, sultry, exotic and erotic. Many people have difficulty seeing Black women as they are because of an eagerness to impose on them an identity based on any number of myths.
"Rituals" US, Director: Carol Mayes A woman uses voodoo to help save her marriage. In the process, she discovers her own identity. Stars Regina King, Isaiah Washington, and Jenifer Lewis.
"Sirga" Cote d'Ivoire/Mali/Zimbabwe/Fr, 1993 Director: Patrick Grandperret A charming, visually stunning fable of an unbreakable bond between a boy and a lion cub.
"Nueba Yol" US/Dominican Republic, Director: Angel Muniz The daily struggles of a young African-Caribbean immigrant (Raul Carbonell) in New York.
"Tableau Ferraille" Senegal, Director: Moussa Sene Absa Daam, who came back from Europe with many degrees, climbs the ladder of politics, hoping to improve the lives of the inhabitants of Tableau Ferraille, his native town in Senegal.
* On the subject of film festivals. Founded three years ago to develop and realize co-productions with an artistic claim, the International Co-production Meetings Mannheim-Heidelberg will for the first time also present eight film projects from Africa to potential co-producers in Europe. They are: "Devil's Chimney" (produced by Roberta Durrant, Penguin Films - South Africa); "Witchdoctor" (produced by Dermod Judge - South Africa); "Shadows" (directed by Khalo Matabane and produced by Johan Heyns, Fevertree Productions - South Africa); "God is African" (directed / produced by Akin Omotoso of Bony Enterprises - South Africa); "Mr. Drum" (directed by Zola Maseko, produced by Dumisani Dlamini of dola bill productions - South Africa); "Driving to Glory" (directed by Christine Bala, produced by Ben Zulu of Kazo Moyo Films - Kenya); "Hunter Hunter" (directed / produced by Catherine Mungai of Sambaza Productions Kenya); "Errant Knights" (directed / produced by Abdulkadir A. Said of Acacia Enterprises - Egypt/Mauritius). A total of 65 projects from 39 countries will be discussed from 12 to 16 November 2000 during the 49th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg. For more info visit Their Site , or call Christine Schmieder on +49-621-1560153.
* Over to Rigobert Song.
Hi there readers, firstly let me just express my gratitude to all who've been e-mailing me wanting to know more about film in Africa, and Africa in general. I'll keep doing my best to enlighten you about my home continent. Now onto this week review."Udju Azul di Yonta' (The Blue Eyes of Yonta) this is one of the few recent African films to make the disillusionment of the revolutionary generation its primary subject - and offer a glimmer of hope for the future. Flora Gomes (born 1949) is a member of the generation which fought for Guinea-Bissau's independence. This director's first feature film, indeed the first feature film made in Guinea-Bissau, Mortu Nega (Those Whom Death Refused) , commemorates that nation's arduous independence struggle, while hinting at its subsequent bureaucratization. In Udju Azul di Yonta, the most compelling character is Vicente, a disenchanted hero of the independence struggle who has only grudgingly adapted himself to post-revolutionary society. He is a figure with whom many disappointed Western '60s activists will identify. As "Comrade Boss" of a fish warehouse, he continues to work for the development of his country against staggering odds. A power outage (a recurrent motif in the film) has spoiled an entire catch of fish and the fishermen and fishmongers are furious. Corruption and kickbacks have become rampant in the city; unbridled free market capitalism is triumphant. Vicente confesses to an old comrade, "We thought the revolution was for everyone,but it is only here for a few of us." Despairing at his own compromised ideals, he exclaims, "Vicente no longer exists; I am a vulture," devouring the carcass of his revolutionary hopes.
Vicente is so despondent he doesn't notice that Yonta, the beautiful daughter of two of his old comrades, is infatuated with him. Yonta represents the generation which has grown up since liberation whose heads are full of dreams of fashion, music and European affluence. In fact, one of the guilty pleasures of this film is noting how revolutionary culture has given way to stunning couture. Yonta, for her part, is unaware of the attentions of a third character, Zé, a poor student from the country., He anonymously sends her love poems cribbed from a book written about a Swedish girl. One reads, "In the cold long nights when snow caresses your windows...the blue of your eyes is the immensity of the sky over my life." The younger generation's incongruous dreams give the film its striking title. A reluctance to abandon old dreams results in the tragi-comic rejection of present opportunities. A distraught Vicente vilifies Yonta: "You have replaced ideals with clothes and night clubs." And she retorts: "It's not my fault if your ideals are spoiled. I want to be free to chose - isn't that what you fought for?" The filmdoesn't end, however, with an endorsement of Yonta's fascination with Western consumer culture. In the penultimate scene, Zé finally encounters Yonta; he angrily demands his poem back saying it doesn't make sense anymore. He warns Yonta that time will pass her by if she doesn't accept the opportunities offered by the real world. The ending of Udju Azul di Yonta is one of the most unexpected in recent African cinema and can justifiably be described as "Felliniesque." The high society of Bissau gathers for an absurd European style reception around a swimming pool, bathed in an otherworldly azure glow. Then in the harsh light of the morning after, they sleep slouched in their deckchairs, hungover with history, while fishermen vainly cast their nets in this artificial pool and Vincente sits dejectedly on its edge. Suddenly, Yonta and the children of Bissau begin to dance around the pool, past their dreaming elders and into an uncharted future. And perhaps we recall the film began with these same children rolling inner-tubes numbered with each year since independence through the streets of Bissau: a striking image of history's anarchy and unpredictability.
Udju Azul di Yonta can, in a sense, only end by leaving the world of narrative for that of symbol. The director cannot and will not try to dictate history's direction. All that remains is the faith that the young will come up with dreams of their own, dreams which, Flora Gomes hopes, will not hold them hostage, but inspire them to make something real in the real Africa all around them. Don't take my word for it this is what the New York Times had to say about it "Flora Gomes' moody film offers a richly shaded vision of a post-colonial African society on the verge of losing hope." Keep the e-mails coming to Rigobertsong@hotmail.com
AFRICAN AMERICAN
* Samuel L. Jackson would never be an anti-drug crusader - despite his own addiction problems. The actor believes it's not his place to tell young people about drugs and their effects - and he isn't sure drugs should be illegal. He says, "I would never go to a school and tell kids, 'Don't drink! Don't smoke a joint!' Because shit, I used drugs successfully for 23 years in my mind. And I know people who still use cocaine on the weekends or smoke a joint and they do their jobs. They're responsible parents and successful people." He adds, "I can't say that America would be a better place if it were drug free. I think America would be a better place if people who smoke reefer, or hash, or whatever, could go into a government- controlled hash store and say, 'Gimme a pound of that'." (Ladies and gentleman the always outspoken Samuel L - DR. SOTHA)
* Will Smith has hired a private chess tutor to educate his son in the ancient game of logic. Will, a keen chess player himself (is this a hint that he's working on a Bobby Fischer remake? - DR. SOTHA), hired the tutor to give eight-year-old Trey, who lives with Smith's first wife Sheree Zampino, some strategy hints - so he'd have a chance of beating his famous dad. Smith sat in on the class, and even challenged the expert to a game himself. A pal says, "The tutor was really nervous because when he turned up at this swish house in Ventura County he had no idea Will Smith was going to answer the door. But he gave a good lesson and Will seemed really keen. He couldn't give Will a game because he had another appointment to go to, but he found the whole experience rather surreal."
* Anthony Anderson (ME, MYSELF & IRENE, SEE SPOT RUN) and Adam Glass will write an untitled urban comedy for Disney and producer Robert Simonds as a starring vehicle for Anderson. It's about Earl Washington, a public defender who is tired of having poor clients, so he tries to scam his way into a Beverly Hills law firm that is looking for a token black attorney. (Thanks to Elston Gunn)
* In the spirit of African American genius (see the Q & A below) I present you with a Czechozlavakian poster of Richard Pryor in Brewster's Millions CLICK HERE, and a Pam Grier in Friday Foster Tickle Here And finally, a Farewell to the Legend - Ali poster on his last appearance Just punch Here
AFRICAN COAXIAL
* In many ways the different parts of the world have a lot in common, take for instance the overwhelming (see detrimental - DR. SOTHA) success of the South African take of "Who wants to be Millionaire" which over a period of time has set a record for ratings (something I'm sure our American and English counterparts have become accustomed too, it's not too late people you can be saved - DR. SOTHA). In fact the gameshow is so popular that we can expect to see another 2 seasons of the wonderfully inventive spectacle (Lord have mercy on our souls - DR. SOTHA).
It's beginning to look a lot like Q & A time. Yeah! I've decided to open up the prizes to the mass public again. And from now on this section will be forever called "The Nurses for Answers Quiz". I think it's pretty self explanatory. The answer to last week's question Richard Brooks directed the dark drama "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" with Diane Keaton. This weeks question, how many films have Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor made together?
