Runtime: 94 minutes
Directed by: Ferid Boughedir
Starring: This is a documentary
From: Several different companies
Note that this will be a long review, but there's a reason for that. I watched something pretty obscure on Netflix Instant and it's a documentary about the early days of African cinema, from Tunisia and France; I am a nerd so of course I would want to see it, especially considering my knowledge of that beforehand was quite limited. Yes I did enjoy it. The Letterboxd review is below and I will return Wednesday night.
This is something different from me: a documentary from Tunisia and France about early African cinema; earlier in the month in another review I admitted I knew precious little about the movies from that continent and I should try to rectify that. When I found this, it seemed perfect to me; Tunisian director Ferid Boughedir compiled clips from various films all across Africa, interviewed various directors and presented a history of film on that continent. It's on Netflix Instant and by all appearances precious few have seen it I figured so I thought it was worth a shot.
It proved to be a worthwhile experience, as besides the various clips you see of films that at least in America are impossible to find even for purchase on disc or viewing via any sort of streaming, the history of films there was also quite interesting; the early directors had many struggles and tried their best, even without the support of their governments and trying to fight against the companies that distributed foreign films there... and said foreign films were often cheap pieces of crap. It was only by the time that this documentary came out that through the efforts of the directors themselves and the increased acceptance of the governments had the movie scene there seen become better regarded.
I really don't know what's happened between then and now when it comes to African cinema and that is quite unfortunate how much of it is still obscure to even film fans and like I said most of it is quite difficult to track down. Maybe one day it'll change; for now I enjoyed learning all that history and seeing those figures get some attention and praise to what certainly looks like a unique scene. I just wish I knew about people like Ousmane Sembene, Med Hondo or Souleymane Cisse, or especially the two female directors they interviewed (Fadika Kramo Lacine & Safi Faye) and what it's like to work in a young industry while dealing with the unfortunate biases that occur due to someone's gender. That said, if you ever wanted to learn more about this topic then this is a must-see.
Below is a list of the film clips they showed. Note that the dates I provide are basically my best guess from looking them up, as the movie and sometimes even IMDb isn't always accurate.
1974's Les “Bicots-Negres” Vos Voisins, directed by Med Hondo and from Mauritania and France: I have no idea what Voisins is actually about, except that it's apparently over 3 hours long and the English title is, ahem, “Arabs and N-----s, Your Friends”. I am not going to type out that full word so I did some self-editing. It does at least provide the introduction for this documentary. It's a random dude speaking for a few minutes about how he knows that “the West” invented everything about filmmaking and how “the whites” came to Africa and they were the ones to build theatres to show the movies from elsewhere. I have no trouble believing that is actually what happened.
After the opening titles the rest of this is narrated in English, alongside the film clips in their native languages.
1963's Borom Serret, from Senegal and directed by famed director Ousmane Sembene: The importance of an authentic voice from the continent and how it accurately portrays life there is mentioned. The clip shown from this 20 minute short of a man with a horse getting his cart seized for unfair reasons and how he's going to survive.
1966's Black Girl, also from Mr. Sembene and this time from Senegal and France: It's a tale about a native woman who is a maid in Senegal but when they move to France she is suddenly mistreated and well, her reaction to all of this is on the gruesome side; sadly it's said to be based on a true story.
1969's Oh Sun, another film directed by Med Hondo and from Mauritania and France: It's another tale of racism in France as a man moves there trying to improve his life but he experiences a different sort of hardship.
1973's Saitane, from Niger/France and directed by Oumarou Ganda: The title is translated to “Satan”, so that says a lot. The movie is about how a sorcerer is like the devil as he manipulates everyone around him. Among the footage shown is a chicken getting its head cut off. You've been warned.
1972's Amanie, a half hour short from the Ivory Coast and directed by Roger Gnoan M'Bala: It was described as being “against extreme Westernization” and the footage shown reflects that, and how some people do need to stay in the country so they could-for example-continue being farmers.
1977's Ceddo, another from Ousmane Sembene: It's about a village trying to avoid being converted by outsiders throughout several centuries.
1973's Touki Bouki, from Senegal/France and directed by Djibril Diop Mambety: I reviewed it earlier in the month and it did not work for me. I realize it's a minority opinion so you may feel differently than I.
1975's Muna Moto, directed by Jean-Pierre Dikongue Pipa, from Cameroon; it's a love story, like Romeo & Juliet, but that's simplifying it, as it's really about dowrys and arranged marriages.
1975's News from the Village, from female director Safi Faye and Senegal, it is about life in her country and a protest against the government.
1975's Xala, against from Ousmane Sembene, the story of a polygamous politician's sudden impotence is satire relating to the bourgeoisie of the country.
1978's Barra, from Mali and director Souleymane Cisse, it's a protest against conditions in the country and how many are mistreated, especially while working.
1980's The Chapel, from what is known now as the Republic of the Congo and Jean-Michel Tchissoukou: I could not find a plot description but from the title and what was shown, religion and the forced Christian beliefs from outsiders seems to be the point
1980's The Exile, another film from Oumarou Ganda: It's based on an old African tale and is about honor and the power of the spoken word.
1976's Ajani Ogun, from Nigeria and director Ola Balogun: It's about a young hunter who has to deal with a corrupt politician.
1981's Djeli, from the Ivory Coast and director Fadika Kramo Lacine: It's about the caste system in Africa and its issues.
1982's Wend Kuuni, from what is now Burkina Faso and Gaston Kabore is a tale about an abandoned young child found then adopted.
1981's Fenye, again from Mali and director Souleymane Cisse, it's about a student revolt against the oppressive regime.
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