The Continent on campus March 22-25
By Kenya Vaughn
Of The St. Louis American
“When we launched the festival last year, we had no idea what to expect, but the reception was overwhelming,” said Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo, African Film Festival organizer and assistant dean in the College of Arts & Sciences at Washington University.
Next weekend, Washington University will once again present the African Film Festival to St. Louis. This year’s festival will take place from Thursday March 22 – Sunday, March 25.
The series consists of four feature films and four short films from six different African nations covering a variety of themes including identity, coming of age, and relationships.
“This is the year of the African woman for the festival and the women speak behind the camera and on screen through both their physical presence as well as their words,” Diallo said.
Through U-Carmen Ekhayelitsha, a South African adaptation of the 19th century opera Carmen, audiences are allowed rare insight regarding their perspective on beauty and how it defies the norms of Western society. Daughter of Keltoum shows one woman’s search for her roots and cultural identity through a journey back to the birthplace of her biological mother.
According to Diallo, the new millennium has brought forth a great revolution in mass communications capabilities that has reduced the cultural distance between nations, continents and the world. And with the advances in technology and accessibility, African film as an institution has evolved from its early exploration of colonialism into a powerful intellectual and emotional force for social change.
Most of the films in this year’s festival come from the Traveling Film Series of the African Film Festival New York. Now in its 11th year, the organization is dedicated to highlighting African cinema, an often-neglected part of international film culture, and frequently overlooked by major film distributors.
Each year, the series travels to about a dozen cities, reaching thousands of viewers whom would otherwise have little or no opportunity to view African cinema.
“I was thrilled that St. Louis recognized the significance of supporting African films and African filmmakers as they shed light on their reality,” Diallo said.
The 2nd Washington University African Film Festival will take place from Thursday, March 22 – Sunday, March 25. All screenings are free and open to the public and begin at 7 p.m. in Brown Hall, Room 100. Brown Hall is located near the intersection of Forsyth Boulevard and Chaplin Drive. For more information about the festival, go online to wupa.wustl.edu/africanfilm, e-mail wtoliver@artsci.wustl.edu or call 935-7879.
Each evening will include one recent feature and one recent short film. The complete schedule runs as follows:
Thursday, March 22
MY LOST HOME / MA MAISON PERDUE
Kamal El-Mahouti, Morocco/France, 2001
In French & Arabic with English subtitles
The filmmaker recounts his childhood memories in the wake of the destruction of a French housing project, exploring the complexly intertwined history of France and Morocco through the eyes of Moroccan immigrants living in France.
DAUGHTER OF KELTOUM
Mehdi Charef, Algeria, 2001
In Arabic with English subtitles
A young woman, Rallia, raised in Switzerland, travels to an isolated and barren Berber settlement located in the rocky Atlas Mountains of Algeria in a desperate search for her biological mother.
Friday, March 23
TOI, WAGUIH
Namir Abdel Messeeh, Egypt/France, 2005
In French & Arabic with English subtitles
The story of a relationship between a screenwriter son and his father told through the silence of the father’s feelings about his political life.
THE NIGHT OF TRUTH / LA NUIT DE LA V…RIT…
Fanta Régina Nacro, Burkina Faso, 2004
In Dioula, French, & Moré with English subtitles
Mirroring the political strife and genocide in contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa, preparations are made to end a decade of civil war in a fictitious country. As the powerful drumming begins, both rebels and government forces gather, bringing with them years of rage, grief, hope, suspicion, and bitterness.
Saturday, March 24
WHOLE: A TRINITY OF BEING
Shelley Barry, South Africa, 2004
Three experimental shorts which deal with sexuality, visibility, and voice from the perspective of a wheelchair user who turns the camera on herself to celebrate love and survival.
U-CARMEN EKHAYELITSHA
Mark Dornford-May, South Africa
In Xhosa with English subtitles
With its story of love, jealousy, and revenge, the film is set in a sprawling South African shantytown and sung in Xhosa! George Bizet’s 19th century spectacle is re-imagined in a world of pool halls, bars, and courtyards, featuring Dimpho Di Kopane, the internationally acclaimed theater company.
Sunday, March 25
OUSMANE/DEWANATI
Dyana Gaye, Senegal/France, 2006
In Wolof with English subtitles
Dakar, Senegal. Ousmane a 7 years old child, who begs in the streets, decides to write a letter to Santa Claus.
A CHILD’S LOVE STORY / UN AMOUR D’ENFANT
Ben Diogaye Beye, Senegal, 2004
In Wolof and French with English subtitles
A touching investigation of innocent love between children in Senegal set against the background of a traditional class system. As Senegal begins to deteriorate under economic upheaval, they are forced to come of age.
