As January 2013 slowly reaches its tail end
I have had to sit down and reflect on African cinema in the year 2012. The
results of my contemplation show that I have not been watching as much African
Films as I ought to be. I am embarrassed to say that I did not watch any productions
from the year 2012, which is a very sad state of affairs, especially since many
filmmakers were hard at work last year.
As part of my New Year’s resolutions I have
made a commitment to reform my erratic movie-watching. I have challenged myself
to make a consented effort to watch more movies from our beloved motherland. The exciting
thing about my resolution is the abundant movies that I will get to watch.
In recent times, films coming out from
Africa are showing more and more diversity in terms of genres and themes. Gone
are the days when African cinema focused solely on social and political themes.
African filmmakers are now presenting fresh subject matters and styles that cater
for the varied tastes that are synonymous with our continent.
Here are ten great movies that were made across
the length and breadth of Africa in 2012 that are on my Must-Watch list for
2013 (in no particular order).
1 1. Nyaminyami Amaji Abulozi
(Zimbabwe)
‘Nyaminyami amaji abulozi’, a 39-minute
film directed by author Tsitsi Dangarembga .
The film is based on the legendary fable of a dragon-like creature said
to reside in the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe.
2 2. After the Battle (Egypt)
‘After
the Battle’ is a 2012 Egyptian drama film written
by Omar Shama and directed by Yousry Nasrallah. The film competed for the Palme
d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.
3 3. The Marshal of Finland
(Kenya)
‘The
Marshal of Finland’, directed by a Kenyan Gilbert
Lukalia, is a Finnish fictional film based on the life of Carl Gustaf Emil
Mannerheim. The film's world premiere
was on The Helsinki International Love & Anarchy Film Festival on September
28, 2012.
4 4. Otelo Burning (South Africa)
Shot in Durban and directed by Sara Blecher
(Surfing Soweto), the film tells the
story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. It's set in 1989,
against a backdrop of brewing conflict between two political groups in
Lamontville.
The 'Last
Flight to Abuja' is a film written and directed by filmmaker Obi Emelonye. The
feature film was inspired by a series of aeroplane disasters that rocked
Nigeria in 2006.
6. ASAD (South Africa)
The story of ‘Asad’ takes us into the lives of ordinary people in a seaside
village in Somalia, providing the audience with a glimpse into the daily struggles
of ordinary Somalis living in a dysfunctional and failed state.Asad is a young
boy faced with choices in a land where survival is a daily challenge. The film received
an Oscar nomination in the Best Short Film category in 2013.
7 7. Ties That Bind (Ghana)
The film, Ties That Bind, directed by Leila
Djansi, and is a story of three women Adobea (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde), Buki
(Ama K Abebrese) and Theresa (Kimberly Elise). Though the three are from
different backgrounds, they are bound together by the shared experience of
losing a child.
8 8. The Legend of Ngong Hills
(Kenya)
Based on a Maasai folktale, the short
animated film "The Legend of Ngong Hills" tells the story of the
creation myth of the beautiful hills that backdrop present day Nairobi. The
short film won the Best Animation award at the 2012 AMAA Awards in Lagos
Nigeria.
‘The
In-Laws’ —written and produced by United
Kingdom-based Zimbabwean, Demetria Karonga, depicts a very common family
setting in the UK, where Munya (Ashley Majaya) is married to Shaniqua (Julie
Burleton) a white English girl with low regard for the African culture.
1 10. Mad Buddies (South Africa)
‘Mad
Buddies’ is a comedy film directed by Gray Hofmeyr,
co-written by Gray Hofmeyr and Leon Schuster and starring Leon Schuster,
Kenneth Nkosi, Tanit Phoenix and Alfred Ntombela.
