Well, Father Geek is happy. I just spent the last 3 hours with 11 other people and FRED (The Hammer) WILLIAMSON and it was total coolness. In the rare event that you don't know this man/icon. He's John Bookman, Jesse Crowder, Jefferson Bolt, John Steele, and Spearchucker Jones. Still doesn't ring a bell for you? Well how's about CRAZY JOE, MR. MEAN, THE BLACK CAESAR, or NIGGER CHARLEY. This IS Mr. Blaxplotation! He is the COOL Sam Jackson trys so hard to be. He's the former Oakland Raider defensive great and he was standing there bigger than life talking to me wearing a SUPER BOWL #1 ring on his hand. Anyway I'm on cloud 9, Father Geek met a true American legend tonight, up close and personal, and it was just way TOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOL!
DR.SOTHA here for another pouty (Nurse cut it out), sorry potent brew of
Africa-AICN. I had a patient the other day who went into a kind of
somnambulistic trance, his body temperature steadily declining, blood barely
circulating, drawing breath shallowly and only intermittently. Then I
realized this always happens after one of my (highly lethal, always
dangerous, but never fatal) urine transfusions. It makes it worse when the
patient has to be forced into it. The poor bastard doesn't realize that piss
is the eternal cure for mental instability. A couple of pints is all it
takes.
Now e-mail me your insomniac mutterings to Africaaicn@hotmail.com
Nurse, you should know better than to test local anasthetic on that area.
SOUTH AFRICA
Now e-mail me your insomniac mutterings to Africaaicn@hotmail.com
Nurse, you should know better than to test local anasthetic on that area.
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
* More on that development hell project "The Long Walk to Freedom" aka The Nelson Mandela story, to be helmed by Elizabeth director Shekar Kapur. Morgan Freeman whose set to star as Mandela says he has a pact with the former South African president: every opportunity he gets to be together with him is integral and he will seize it, because Freeman believes he needs to have a "visceral sense of him". (He'll have plenty of time to do that, because the way I see it, we're looking at a 2002 release - DR. SOTHA)
* Speaking of all things Shekhar Kapur, Kate Hudson is one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood at the moment, and her hot streak continues with news that she's landed the female lead opposite Heath Ledger in 'The Four Feathers'.Hudson, of course, is the daughter of Goldie Hawn and was most recently seen on screens in the teen thriller 'Gossip'. And is scorching up the screen in Cameron Crowe's 'Almost Famous'.'The Four Feathers' is a remake of a classic 1930s drama and stars Ledger as a British officer who abandons his position just prior to an invasion of Sudan. His fiancée(Hudson) and best friends brand him a coward, but his stiff upper lip remains unbowed and he eventually redeems himself by a remarkable act of bravery. Wes Bentley will play an officer who falls in love with Hudson's character when Ledger is missing, presumed dead. The old-fashioned yarn (based on an RC Sheriff story) is currently shooting in Morocco, with Shekhar Kapur ('Elizabeth') at the helm.
* Underdog Entertainment, the cross-media platform producers of the recent, widely acclaimed documentary "Metamorphosis", have re-launched the New South African Independent Film Web Site - the premier online resource for South African filmmakers. The SA Indie Film Web Site was originally launched in 1995 by Underdog and with its no-holds barred attitude it soon became the alternative voice for independent filmmakers in the country. It was chosen as "best local film site" by the Sunday Times in 1998 and garnered a site of the week award from the Mail and Guardian newspaper. "Our aim was to provide online resources for filmmakers in South Africa when we were reeling from international isolation and the Internet was still new. It came out of our own frustration with not being able the access the information we needed when we started out in the film industry ourselves" explains Underdog's managing director Marc Schwinges. "The interest and awareness of the site has stayed constant throughout. We always intended to bring life back to the site when we'd able to do so. And that time is now" says Creative Director Luiz DeBarros. "Our aim is to be the critical voice of the film industry. We don't just print press releases. We question, probe and love to raise hell. It's a vital necessity in a community that is often in danger of drowning in its own pomposity" laughs Luiz. (Ain't that the truth - DR. SOTHA) The site is aimed at filmmakers working in the drama and documentary genre as well as aspiring filmmakers and students in South Africa. There will also be a growing emphasis on digital filmmaking, which is turning the filmmaking world on its head and lowering the entry level to the medium. The site welcomes articles, submissions and contributions from filmmakers and academics that have something to say about the local film industry.
* The finalists in the Short Film category of the M-Net All Africa Film Awards (to be presented on 16 November at Sithengi) are: Portrait of a Young Man Drowning (11 minutes) directed by Teboho Mahlatsi of South Africa; La Falaise (18 minutes) directed by Faouzi Bensaidi of Morocco; Christmas with Granny (26 minutes) directed by Dumisani Phakati of South Africa; and Kauna's Way (45 minutes) directed by Vickson Hangula of Namibia. Finalists in the Long Form Film category are: A Reasonable Man directed by Gavin Hood of South Africa; Bye Bye Africa directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun of Chad; Al Madina directed by Yousry Nasrallah of Egypt; and ElAbwab El Moghlaka directed by Atef Hetata of Egypt.
* The Jackie Chan / Lucy Liu western comedy Shangai Noon has ridden to the top of the South African box office in its first week, amassing R1 617 266 in ticket sales. The Sci-fi action movie X-Men is at number 2 having made R3 714 809 so far. At number 3 is Urban Legends: The Final Cut (Thank God we always get the good shit first - DR. SOTHA), followed by Keeping The Faith and Flintstones 2: Viva Rock Vegas.
* Here's Jean Paul with the wrap up of the Molweni Film Festival
THE CHILD IS THE FATHER OF MAN
Directed by Theo Davids, this film is a model of cultural cinema and is as much a detailed look at the life in the township within its state of terror as it is a love story. Balancing the horror and reality of the situation, with a real pathos 6/10
SPIRIT OF MALOMBO
Directed by David Brown is a journey to the roots of Malombo music, and to the emergence in 1964 of the Malombo Jazz Men, who are still producing music and challenging the public to listen up. Watered down Buena Vista Social Club 6/10
FIRE AND THE CRESCENT MOON
Directed by Miki Redelinghuys this film traces the development of the project "Vlam" an outdoor performance set in District 6, that uses fire, dance, sculpture, music and story-telling to celebrate the end of the millenium and the birth of a new age. 5/10 (past it's sell by date - DR. SOTHA?)
LAST SUPPER IN HORSTLEY STREET
Directed by Lindi Wilson follows the removal of a Muslim family from District Six, who resisted going until the very end. Wilson's film will be forever remembered by Capetonians who still today feel the scars of the District 6 removals.Think an edgier "East is East". 7/10
W/A LUCY
Directed by Radhaa-Rajen Jaganeth Considered by anthropologists to be the woman from whom all humankind can trace their lineage. One night Lucy calls to a group of Masai herdsman with fascinating results. 7/10
MORTU NEGA (Whom death Refused)
From Guinea Bussau directed by Flora Gomes is a bittersweet eulogy to the veterans of the war of liberation against the Portuguese, set during the closing months of the war. An epic of African cinema. Virtuoso filmmaking. 9/10 (See previous Africa-AICN columns for Rigobert Song's more detailed review - DR.SOTHA)
RETIRING TATIANA
Directed by Thom Steinhoff. This is a romantic comedy in which Drew Williamson, a 30-something Los Angeles based photographer, lives by a credo of "No Commitments". Light Fluff. 6/10
I BRING YOU FRANKENCENSE
Directed by legend in African cinema Ngozi Onwurah. It is a coming of age tale and 'consciousness' story of a black child living in England with his white English mother. He's done better. 6/10
METAL
Directed by Christopher E Brown. Surrounded by poverty, drug abuse, and moral corrosion, Ray, an unemployed auto mechanic, struggles to maintain his sense of dignity and family. Predictable but enjoyable none the less. 6/10
BABYMOTHER
Directed by Julian Henriques. Not satisfied with just hair, nails, clothes and a 'coke bottle' shape, Anita, a young woman who lives the Carribean dancehall culture, wants to be an active, creative part of the London music scene. A little disjointed at times, some good solid scenes in between all the philandering. 6/10
CHRONICLES OF THE YEARS OF EMBERS
An Algerian production directed by Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina. It tells the epic story, told in 6 lyrical cinematic passages, captures the dreams and realities of a simple peasant family caught up in turbulent times. Heart wrenching. 8/10
NAITOU (THE ORPHAN)
Directed by Moussa Diakite. An ancient Mandingo fable of jealosy, intrigue and murder, told without dialogue but through the music and dance of the world famous Les Ballets Africaines de Guinee. More akin to theater lovers, but still enjoyable 7/10
FLAME
Directed by Ingrid Sinclaire it tells the personal joys, sorrows and triumphs of Flame and Liberty, two young female veterans of the Zimbabwe Independance war, are brought to life in this story of courage and liberation. Mediocre at times, but good intentions. 6/10
NORTH AFRICA
* Networking along with The Source Entertainment is set to air two new weekly shows: ``The Source Sound Lab'' and ``The Source: All Access.'' The ``Lab,'' a one-hour show, is a variety hip-hop music and dance show on UPN hosted by Brandy's brother Ray J. Norwood; while "Access'' is a one-hour syndicated entertainment magazine show hosted by actress Lisa Raye ("The Player's Club") and Naughty By Nature's Treach.
* On to Rigobert Song...
Hello there my good African brothers, the film d'jour for today is a little Martinique concoction called "AIME CESAIRE: une voix pour l'histoire" (A Voice for History). This monumental three part study introduces American audiences to the celebrated Martinican author who coined the term negritude and launched the movement called 'Great Black Cry'. Euzhan Palcy, the internationally acclaimed director of "Sugarcane Alley" and "Dry White Season", weaves Cesaire's life and poetry into a vast tapestry featuring many of the most important artistic and intellectual figures of the past six decades. Andre' Breton, the high priest of surrealism, described Cesaire as, "A black man who embodies not simply the black race but all mankind, who will remain for me the prototype of human dignity".
In part I L'lle Veilleuse (The Vigilant Island) Cesaire shows us his pays natale, its volcano, beaches and colonial towns, a tropical crossroad where Europe, Africa and America meet. From this cultural vortex, Cesaire, his wife, Suzanne, and philosopher Rene' Menil founded in 1939 the seminal literary review Tropiques which influenced Caribbean intellectuals like Wilfred Lam, Rene' Depestre and Frantz Fanon. After the war, Cesaire served as mayor of Forte-de-France and Martinique's representative to the French national assembly. He discusses the difficulty of balancing the life of a poet with that of a practical politician for over 50 years.
Part II, Au rendezvous de la conquete (Where the Edges of Conquest meet) moves to Paris in the 1930's where Cesaire, Leopold Senghor, first president of Senegal, and the French Guyanese poet, Leon Damas, developed the concept of negritude, a world wide revindication of African values. John Henrik Clarke and Howard Dodson of the Schomburg Center discuss the profound impact of black American authors like Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, and Claude McKay as well as jazz and the Harlem Renaissance on this primarily Francophone movement.
Part III, La Force de regarder demain (The Strength to Face Tomorrow), Cesaire responds to the disappointments of the post colonial world. His plays La Tragedie du roi Christophe (about the Haitan revolution) and Une Saison au Congo (about Patrice Lumumba) were among the first to warn of the dangers of neo-colonialism. French anthropologist Edgar Morin, biographer Roger Toumson, Brazilian author Jorge Armado, Antillean novelist Maryse Conde and American writer Maya Angelou testify to Cesaire's central role as a "founding ancestor" for the current flowering of Diaspora literature. The best way to look at this multi layered, vignetting peice of filmmaking is to compare it to the Beat movement that washed over America in a time of change and turmoil. Where writers like Jack Kerouac, Allan Ginsberg and William Burroughs were grating at the core of the American myth, so to then Cesaire, albeit with a slightly different objective.change through comprehension. "A Voice for History" I've been told has been screened on cable channels in Europe and North America. It would do you more good then harm to check your local listings and find out if it'll surface anywhere near you. E-mail me at Rigobertsong@hotmail.com and we can talk African Film.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
* Acclaimed actor Andre Braugher is back in the ABC weekly medical drama ``Gideon's Crossing.'' Braugher stars in the show as Dr. Ben Gideon, the chief of experimental medicine at a Boston teaching hospital. Weekly Gideon and his staff will deal with the rigors of life-and-death situations.The show is already getting rave reviews. The first episode will air Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 10 ET/PT with no commercials. The show will air in its regular 10 PM timeslot on Wednesdays beginning Oct. 11
* Showtime Entertainment will release on Tuesday, October 10 the Emmy-winning movie "Summer's End" starring James Earl Jones. In the film, Jones plays a retired black doctor who returns to his boyhood town and befriends a young boy, who recently lost his father.However, the feuding between the young boy and his older brother, which flares up the town's racist past tests their friendship.
* King of cool Samuel L. Jackson has been relaxing from shooting a movie in Liverpool by hanging out at the city's hip "superclub", Cream. Jackson joined his The 51st State (2001) co-stars Robert Carlyle and Sean Pertwee in Cream's trendy Mello Mello bar recently. And he was so impressed with the legendary dance venue that he has requested tickets for both nights of Cream's forthcoming eighth birthday party weekend. The club which attracts the world's top DJs, had been recommended to him by fellow Hollywood icon Denzel Washington. Gill Nightingale, Cream spokeswoman, says, "Denzel has been here and Samuel had heard all about Cream. When he came down last week he was very cool, calm and collected. He stood back and observed while Robert Carlyle and Sean Pertwee got up for a good dance. They are coming along to the birthday weekend parties and we've got a table reserved for them already." In The 51st State (2001) Jackson plays a shady drug dealer operating in Liverpool's underground club scene.
AFRICAN COAXIAL
* For the first time in the history of broadcasting the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will host three international conferences back-to-back. The conferences include the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA), the Commonwealth Broadcasters Association (CBA),and the Public Broadcasting International (PBI). This is the first time that CBA and PBI are being held on the African Continent. The theme of the SABA conference, which was officially opened on 9 October by the Minister of Communication Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casburri, is Newsroom Solutions in the New Millennium. CBA, a London-based association consisting of 54 public broadcasters from Commonwealth countries, commences on 11 October and will focus on "Quality Programmes First". The Elizabeth R Award (given annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to public broadcasting) will be presented at this conference. PBI will be held from 15 October and consists of Public Broadcasters from all over the world. This year's session will examine the dilemmas and problems faced by national public service broadcasters as well as by the Internet and the Third World and the role of Broadcasting Unions and news exchange.
Time for Nurses for Answers. Many of you got the answer right to last weeks question, Norman Jewison directed "In the Heat of the Night", but only one, Domino , gets Nurse Ratchet with full body makeover (and believe me she needs it). This weeks question adopting this October's Halloween motif, 'What is considered the scariest African Film of all time"?
