‘HYENAS IS A MAST ERPIECE BY AFRICA’S ORSON WELLES'
African gold
As the second Africa in Motion (AiM) film festival gears up, its director Lizelle Bisschoff and advisor Mark Cousins name the movies and filmmakers to watch
Mark Cousins In the 90s. when I first fell in love with African movies. I’d jump on a cheapo train or plane to London or Paris if either city was showing the classics. Films like ()tismane Sembene‘s astonishing ' satire on impotence. .\'u/u. or his pioneering Blur/t (iirl. or (‘raston Kabore‘s (iml'v
(fill. a mythic story about a mute boy. or Youssef
('hahine's 'I'lir' Sparrow. which is like a Douglas Sirk movie. \\ ere shown so seldom in the [K that you had to grab your chance.
The tnore films by Sembene. (‘hahine or Kabore I saw in those years. the more a world of brilliant cinema opened up to me and the more I became indignant at its invisibility or marginalisation. The general view seemed to he that African cinema was technically primitive. but we should watch it because of what it tells us about the problems of the continent. Absolute bollocks. I came to realise that we should see African films for the reason that we should see any other films because they are entertaining. or danling. becatise of their characters and stories.
Hash forward to Zoos and. suddenly. we have a festival in lidinburgh that is screening what I used to travel hundreds of miles to see. I could hardly believe it. This year it's showing the four classics I mentioned above. plus The Him] by Souley mane (‘isse and chnus. the hypnotic. daft. wicked. thraw n. uncategorisable masterpiece by Africa‘s Orson Welles. Djibril l)iop Mambety.
If the world was fair. if the mo\ ie playing field was level. if talent was what counted. Mambety would be tip there with Scorsese. Peckinpah and the like. The fact that he's almost unknown is our loss. The fact that Africa in Motion is bringing these films to Scotland is a reason. I think. to dance til dawn.
Lizelle Bisschoff AiM 2007 returns with a programme of more than 30 films. spanning five decades of lilmmaking in Africa. The selection of contemporary films betrays a great deal of stylistic and thematic innovation and boldness.
South African director Teddy Mattera's Mar and
Mom: is a black comedy incorporating themes of
rural superstition. Acclaimed Tunisian director Nouri Bou/id tackles the controversial but relevant subject of Islamic fundamentalism in linking ()l'.
Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda. of the Republic of the (‘ongo. addresses the experiences of the African exile in [iurope in his intelligent. stylish .luju l‘iu‘mrv. Ali-rm Paradise. by Sylvestre Amoussou of Benin satirically envisions a future in which Africa is the economic powerhouse to which everyone wants to emigrate. An undisputed highlight is the festival‘s
closing screening of the South African film Sun of
Man (pictured). a daring reinterpretation of the gospels set in a township.
A special f‘octis on the work of female African directors includes a series of three rare classics by pioneers from North. West and Southern Africa. An e\tensive documentary programme includes a double- bill of Lusophone documentaries. Notoriously under- represented Iiast African cinema is getting an unprecedented boost with the screening of Villant \tlasowa's docudrama The .l/Ivsrwjv Mountain. the first ever Malawian film screened internationally.
Africa in Motion, Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 25 Oct-Sun 4 Nov. To win tickets to the opening night film and party see competition, page 44. For the full programme information visit www.africa-in-motion.org.uk
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THE BEST FILM 8 DVD RELEASES
* The Witnesses André Téchiné's masterful tale of life. love and friendship at the time of the first AIDS epidemic in Paris in 1984. See review, page 40. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 19 Oct. * Eastern Promises David Cronenberg returns to London for the first time since 2002's Spider for this intricate. intelligent and deeply Russian Mafiosi thriller. See review. page 39. General release, Fri 26 Oct. * Once Intuitive and joyful Irish musical about a busker's attempts to strike up a friendship with a young Czech immigrant. See feature. page 10. Selected release, Fri 19 Oct.
* Africa In Motion Second year of this brilliant African film festival. See preview, left. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 25 Oct-Sun 4 Nov.
=i= Dance: Film Festival Scotland's inaugural dance film festival. See feature. page 15. www.dancefilmscotland.com Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Mon 29 Oct-Sun 4 Nov.
* Ratatouille Delightful rat in the kitchen animated feature. General release.
it The Counterfeiters Fascinating concentration camp forgery thriller. GFT, Glasgow; Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
* Sicko Michael Moore takes on US health care with illuminating results. See review. page 40. GFF, Glasgow; Cameo, Edinburgh.
* Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages Remarkable 1922 docudrama finds a new lease of life on DVD with the help of a William Burroughs narration. See Horror DVD round-up. page 40. Out now (Tartan).
18 Oct-f NOV 2007 TH! LIST 37