Ekinanba 7 The Number Seven

This one definitely delivered on the all the hype that was built around it. 

It is a healthy mix of tragedy and comedy with interesting infusions of Faith. It is structured around them life of a young woman and her family. Set in a rural place the film follows the couple through challenges that threaten not just their marriage but their lives. 

The couple must depend on their friends and family for solutions to their problems. We see interesting explorations of faith and culture (traditional belief). 

The director makes full use of the locations and the limitations present with these choices. It is possible that the choice of the rural setting and the scene selections help add quite a lot to the mystery and the sense of restriction that life in the village presents to its inhabitants.

A day or two before the celebration of Women's Day, you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that the director, writer and supporting role actress role is all done by one named Joan Namirimu. 

The jury is still out regarding the role of voice overs in Ugandan Cinema so we look forward to seeing if some of these leading pictures will have as much an effect sans commentary. 

An interesting side note. The directions often given by traditional practitioners (virgin birds in this case) often seem awfully close to some of the tasks that were given by ancient Greeks (golden fleeces, battles with Hydra). 

Eddogo Mu Kika-Makungura Ki?

This is a film in two parts directed by Katongole Henry Joy. 

The story is set in both rural and urban settings and tackles broad themes common to people in dealing with growth and change. It attempts to create a picture what life would be like if we were to resort to the use of the magic arts for our preservations. 

There is a marked difference between what in Swahili is called Miti Shamba (Eddagala Lyeki Nansi) and what can broadly be described as  Urogi (WitchCraft) the former in English would be called Traditional Medicine mainly making use of herbs, roots and leaves or different plants and trees versus the use of both secret herbs and portions mainly accompanied by words and belief as well as the backing of ancestors to effect change in the lives of everyday people. 

The film is thus an attempt to explore the effect of these activities on a family and the way in which those that are affected deal with these challenges. 

The choice of cast was good as well as location. There is a good combination of plot twists that leave you genuinely concerned and expectant. There are several scenes that help put typical rural life in perspective. 

The film is part of a category that was created to make International film more accessible but that has obviously become a 'thing' within itself. It is almost impossible to imagine watching anything local that is not accompanied by voice over (enjogelele). 

A large groups of people that make up our population have strong Christian belief and a fair sharing of traditional practice to contend with these ideas. As such the manner in which local people juggle these two conflicting worlds makes for great entertainment. Almost all of the effective urban church movements devote a good amount of their time tackling traditional belief and the ideas that many hold onto about the possibility of ill will from others and bad luck. 

The 'traditional doctor' or conjurer is therefore often part of the extended family responsible for all sorts of progress and pain. There are battles to revive these traditional beliefs as many begin to deal with late or undelivered packages of change and development that have not been received. This could cause a rift between the Kingdoms and 

Cultural Institutions on one hand and the Faiths which have benefitted on the whole in the post colonial age. 

There is a slight reference to the this in the film with a brief appearance of a bible. The message is clear though in the title which asks the question-Mukungura Ki (loosely translated as what do you gain or harvest).

Black Panther

Zoe Saldana is an attractive actress. She featured in an interesting movie where she has to deal with some adversaries from her past (Colombiana). 

You got the sense that you wanted to see a lot more of her on the screen. But that was not going to happen at least not in the format in which I wished to see her. I share these sentiments with many and when I searched for images and Information about her and more at her films, I found good stuff on the Internet...as in box office moving stuff but almost all these were about creatures from other planets. There were very few in which she featured in full. Not many where we got to see her as the real attractive talented blossoming actress that she is. There is Avatar (2009) Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, 2017) and Star Trek (2016). 

So my feelings about the emergence of a new presentation about Black super heroes is mixed (Black Panther). It's projected success notwithstanding. 

I want to see people celebrated for being ordinary. Like taking care of kids and growing plants and doing regular work. I want to see a sense in many of us where we do not despise those things that are just...well regular things that regular people do. I do not see why we should get so excited that we are finally part of the life of make belief. This while we sit somewhat half embarrassed at grandma's remedies and recipes because they are too primitive or backward or worse than that devilish. 

Ani Mulalu: whose the crazy one?

So we promised you our first review of a Ugandan made movie. Here goes. 

The title to the film is called Ani Mulalu? Which means who is the crazy one. In the local Ganda language you have a play on words that differentiates between "omulalu" and "omugwi we ddalu". This subtle difference is kind of the essence of the movie. It seeks to split between hairs in describing the one who has a moment of insanity and one who really crosses the line. This is the story of the man...a soldier who returns from the his tour of duty and has to deal with the challenge of a kidnapping. We leave it there in order not to ruin the rest of the tale for you. 

The director is called Isaac Nabwana. His work is done under the banner of Ramon Film Productions. From what I gather, there have been quite a number of projects that have been done using the help of multitudes via kick starter. 

There have been previous discussion of this director and his work notably from the BBC (which should be commended for spotlighting not just Uganda's growing film industry but also traveling the continent spotlighting  music from all sorts of genres). 

It is currently too costly to engage specialists who would blow up cars as well as provide stunt doubles so what this director does is make full use of the green screen and a decent set of graphic designers for post editing work. The review from the BBC featured a young American lad who after hearing and seeing some of Isaac's work did what most adventurous Americans do and took a plane to Uganda. Next thing he knows he was assigned a role which had him skipping through puddles of raw...stuff. 

The enthusiastic American described Mr. Nabwana's style as similar to Quentin Tarantino possibly because of the shaky camera style and tendency towards plenty of blood and guts. This could be true. You get the sense at least in his action flick that a wedding is taking place between old school Chinese cinema and Tarantino's no holds barred style of shooting and presentation. 

Personally they had me when the presented their version of camouflage or at least what it would be like to do so in an urban trash filled setting. 

The film was shot to deal with some delicate subject matter after kidnappings increased in the city. We are certain though that they delivered much more than that. The scene on the whole has changed and it has felt at least for me that fact and fiction are harder to split. So In this regard for the whole industry both local and international I hope that we can find some meeting ground. 

The jury is still out regarding the case between voice overs and movie producers as well as resellers of these movies but for those that have a knowledge of the local language there is plenty of overkill. You get the sense that the film would be much better if it were left to exist in the current language even if the voice over guys have a tendency of making it much more enjoyable. Maybe infusing these movies with deliberate voice overs would be a decent proposal and stylistic element all in itself. 

Ramon Film Productions is one to watch if you ask me. 

Learning Uncle Vincent (LUV).

I found another gem. This one has Danny Glover. He is playing a villain. Yes just like you I was surprised. I am much too accustomed to watching him alongside Mel Gibson. This time around is paired with Common and another young promising actor. Common in this role is dealing with life on this side of freedom and has the task of mentoring or at least guiding a young man who has been placed in his care. The snacks, the visit to the tailors, the time devoted to teaching the young man how to drive...and then perhaps the most important part of the encounter-visit the old neighborhood and a lesson never to show fear! There is another captivating scene much later in the movie where a gun is pulled on the two 'men' and the older 'goes off' on the younger for not having his back. You are left puzzled as is the younger man that his older companion views him as being old enough not to 'freeze on him'. Then you watch the progression and the manipulation, the scores and the back and forth between the new school and the old school. You watch the rituals around the dinner table...a brief transition from childhood to adulthood at which the young boy can now handle his own 'crab'. Very well done if you ask me!

May 16, 2016 at 3:05am · 

Privacy: Friends

The ticket-an exploration of the balance of power in human relations.

So I found a gem on one of our local Tv stations. It is called the ticket. In it you will see the ideas behind man relations and the delicate balance of power upon which many of us base our activities. 

While the film is based on blindness, the disabilities upon which these power levers exists are many and varied. One does not necessarily have to be that disadvantaged to see the effects and experience the results of a power play. One need only on a personal level have some sort of perception issue. Whether it is education or personal belief, if at some point your partner has an edge over you, they will rule over you. No matter how subtle the expression of this lordship is it exists and will determine the manner in which you relate to others and how they relate to you. 

In a sense many of these effects are a kin to a sense of blindness which is why there is a mastery sense to this motion picture. The moment he receives his sight everything changes. And that is really what knowledge is all about. A new education, a new skill, a new ideas, the revival of old dreams. These concepts are all about an opening of the eyes and the change in perception that has the potential to cause a dramatic effect in ones life and the lives and relationships that constitute that life. 

All of a sudden the enlightened one sees and has to deal with two things. What they did not see in the past and what they now see and perceive with a set of new senses. The sense of trust is probably the toughest thing to deal with. What did I miss what was kept from my sight to protect me? And why? Maybe this is the test of freedom? What will you do now that you no longer have to deal with the limitations of your disability? 

What can you now do with the idea of your new found independence? Relating to those whose task it was to keep you is no longer the same. They now have a new identity that will be defined outside of you and your care. How will you relate to those who were in the same boat? 

What If after your moment of liberation you lost the love of those who were once dear to you? This probably happens because they are more accustomed to dealing with you in your disability or your lack of illumination. It is strange but some people draw their identity from your weaknesses and their defense of their trade and position is based on the darkness that you hold. 

Queens, Kings, Ghettos and Federations.

Queen of Katwe

Finally got to watch the movie courtesy of one of our local TV stations and all that at about
5AM!
As a chess enthusiast it was a blast watching on camera some of the lessons that i had attempted to glean from life.

Lupita N'yongo the gorgeous attractive
IVY league actress from Kenya was in this
one too (she takes on the role of mother). I did mention her in some previous posts probably saddened that we were having difficulty putting away a fraction of our collective history. Frustrated that there was a smart core of people who were causing us to pay undue attention to certain parts of our lives by heaping praise and awards onto these specific subjects.

It is a great tale nonetheless. A journey that chronicles the life of a young talented girl-Phiona Mutesi (played by a new comer with plenty of promise-Medina Nalwanga) and her mentor/teacher Robert Katende (played by David Oyelowo) who discovers her skill at a strategy game and uses it to make some major moves from poverty
to prominence.

The movie gives you a glimpse into family life and the struggles a
single mother has to go through to raise her daughter. The
older sister and her tough decisions to make it out of the same
rutt and the moral questions that challenge both mother and
daughter. We get an insight into the difficulties that go with
life in a modern slum. The punishing rain that often destroys
makeshift homes. A blessing to some but a curse to many others.

We see distinct differences between the ghetto (a word that we
thought was banished in history somewhere in Poland) life and
a life of relative affluence in a historic school reserved for the sons
and grandsons of Chiefs. There are interesting battles between
those who make up these two worlds, battles which will often
play out in life in a setting that is clearly very stratified.

Life lessons are plenty in a manner only often familiar with third
world kids where humor and education and life are all meshed
up in a complex mix.

Watch as the mother struggles to deal with a child that has tasted of the better life and now has to return in submission to an older wiser woman although at this point the daughter feels like she has bypassed her.


Perhaps the most interesting part of the movie is the subtle use of
affection between young attractive student and older married
teacher and the use of the term queen which she (the student)
uses to mazimum effect when she keeps the queen piece of the
board which she shares enthusiastically and playfully with her
mentor/King.

The use of local settings and regular everyday occurrences such
as the market places, the motor cycle, the hospital visit and the
untimely exit, the flash floods, the dance, the songs that are sung while on the way to school in a minivan as well as the choice of
dark dull colours contrasted with the beautiful garments that are worn
by residents maybe as an insulation against the sheer 'starkness'
of some of the conditions in which thet live. Directed by Mira Nair (responsible for Missisipi Masala) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mira_Nair

A good presentation if you ask me.