Movie Review
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-AfricanMoviesListforHIWD3203.docxAfrican Movies List for HIWD 320
I have provided a list of films and documentaries that provide a glimpse into African history and life. All of them have valuable qualities, as award-winning examples of African cinematic art, as illustrations of African life, and as records of African history. However, sometimes as an element of that reflection and sometimes as a result of artist choices in telling those stories, many of these films include elements that are not in accordance with the Liberty Way and which reflect a non-Christian worldview or the horrific results of non-Christian worldviews. As you select a movie to watch and review, I encourage you to make your selection based on your interest in particular nations or issues and based on your own personal preferences/conscience in these matters.
For each movie (besides the release date, nation produced in/by and/or the nation the film is set in, and a brief synopsis), I have indicated areas that may be of concern for you, where I am aware of them. Many films have not been rated, many have not been assessed for content, and some have been recommended based on their cinematic or historical credentials, and not based on personal viewing, so these notes are not complete. I strongly encourage you to use the “Parental Guide” feature available on IMDb.com, which often notes particular issues with films, or to use other parental guides or movie resources to determine possible issues with the film (for instance, a movie may be rated R because of war-related violence, without any swearing or nudity; other films can be rated PG-13 with substantial amounts of swearing or other impropriety).
If there is a different movie that you would like to watch, that you feel fits the requirements for this assignment, please get in touch with your instructor for permission to substitute.
Films
The Battle of Algiers (1966) Italian/Algeria, set in Algiers
based on true story of the war for Algerian independence from France
rated PG-13 for war violence and torture
Black and White in Color (La Victoire en chantant/Noirs et Blancs en couleur) (1976) Ivory Coast
French and Germans at war in Central Africa, during WWI
rated PG
Buud Yam (1997) Burkina Faso
historical drama based on oral tradition, a young man whose mother was killed as a witch tries to save his sister and avoid being called a witch himself
no rating
Ceddo (1977) Senegal
set at the beginning of the colonial period, the Senegalese try to deal with the onslaught of Muslims, Christians, and the French
no rating
Chronicle of the Years of Fire (1975) Algeria
Algerian peasant becomes involved in the fight for national independence
no rating
Come Back, Africa (1959) USA, set and filmed in South Africa
docu-fiction, chronicles the life of black Africans under Apartheid
no rating
District 9 (2002) South Africa
sci-fi horror film that uses metaphors to present fractured relationships of Apartheid South Africa
violence and gore, strong language; rated R
The Figurine (2009) Nigeria
supernatural thriller; friends find idol that grants 7 years of good luck, but at a price
spirituality and Nigerian mysticism; no rating
From a Whisper (2009) Kenya
presents lives of those affected by the 1998 terrorist bombing in Nairobi, on its 10th anniversary no rating
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) USA, set in Kenya
man-eating lions terrorize British railway builders
rated R for animal related violence
The Gods Must be Crazy (1980) South Africa
comedy looking at the intrusion of the commercial western world into African spaces
tribal (non-sexual) nudity
Guelwaar (1993) France/Senegal, set in Senegal
religious and political fight about whether a Christian politician can be buried in a Muslim graveyard
no rating
Hotel Rwanda (2004) USA, set in Rwanda
based on a true story; hotel manager saves many lives in the midst of the Rwandan genocide
much violence, some language; rated R
Hyènes (1992) Senegal
comedy, wealthy woman returns home and offers to give her money in exchange for revenge
no rating, no notable impropriety
Invictus (2009) USA, set in South Africa
based on a true story, Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Rugby World Cup
rated PG-13 for language
Keïta! l'Héritage du griot (1995) Burkina Faso
a young boy learns the story of Sundjata (partly a religious creation story) and tries to reconcile it with what he learns in school
no rating
Khartoum (1966) USA, set in Sudan
Egyptians/British battle against Sudanese Muslim extremist
Rated PG for violence
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) USA, Set in Arabian peninsula, but relevant to the same/similar people groups in Northern Africa
English officer who gets Arab tribes to help fight the Turks during WWI
rated PG for mild violence
Lumumba (2000) France, set in the Republic of the Congo
the rise and assassination of Patrice Lumumba, in the midst of international politics of the 1960s violence, no rating
Moi, un noir (1958) France, set in the Ivory Coast
experiences of young Nigerian migrant workers
no rating
Samba Traoré (1993) Burkina Faso
A man robs a store and kills someone in the city, then returns to try and live his life in his home village
no rating
Sambizanga (1972), France, set in Angola
based on a true story (many of the actors were involved in real life) of Angolan liberation fights
not rated; probably significant violence
Sarafina! (1992) South Africa
musical about student uprising against Apartheid
violence
Sitanda (2006) Nigeria
drama that parallels the modern problems of a family with their historic experience as slaves
no rating
Stanley and Livingstone (1939) USA, set in southern Africa
loosely based on story of the English explorers
rated G
Tsotsi (2005) South Africa
redemption in the life of a Johannesburg gang leader
rated R for violence and language
Waiting for Happiness (2002) Mauritania
a variety of characters experiencing the complicated life of modern Nouadhibou, Mauritania
no rating
Zulu (1964) United Kingdom, set in South Africa
based on true story; how a few British troops hold off thousands of Zulu warriors during Anglo-Zulu war
tribal (non-sexual) nudity, violence
NOT the 2013 movie with a different story
Documentaries
Lost Kingdoms of Africa Series 1 (2010) BBC (Nubia, Ethiopia, Great Zimbabwe, and West Africa)
Lost Kingdoms of Africa Series 2 (2012) BBC (The Kingdom of Asante, The Zulu Kingdom, The Berber Kingdom of Morocco, and Bunyoro & Buganda)
African Movies List
for HIWD 320
I have provided a list of films and documentaries that provide a glimpse into African history and life. All
of them have valuable qualities, as award
-
winning examples of African cinematic art, as illustrations of
African
life, and as records of African history. However, sometimes as an element of that reflection and
sometimes as a result of artist choices
in telling those stories
, many of these films include
elements that
are not in accordance with the Liberty Way and whi
ch reflect a non
-
Christian worldview
or the horrific
results of non
-
Christian worldviews
. As you select a movie to watch and review, I encourage you to make
your selection based on your interest in particular nations or issues
and
based on your
own person
al
preferences/conscience in these matters.
For each mov
ie (besides the release date,
nation produced
in
/by and/
or the nation the film is set in
, and
a brief synopsis
), I have indicated areas that may be of concern for you
, where I am aware of them
.
Many fil
ms have not been rated, many have not been assessed for content, and some have been
recommended based on their cinematic or historical credentials, and not based on personal viewing, so
these notes are not complete. I strongly encourage you to use the “Pa
rental Guide” feature available on
IM
Db
.com, which often notes particular issues with films, or to use other
parental
guides
or movie
resources
to
determine possible issues with the film (for instance, a movie may be rated R because of
war
-
related violence, without any swear
ing or nudity; other films can be rated PG
-
13 with substantial
amounts of swearing or other impropriety).
If there is a different movie that you would like to watch, that you feel fits the requirements for this
assignment, please get in touch with your i
nstructor for permission to
substitute.
Films
The Battle of Algiers
(1966) Italian/Algeria, set in Algiers
based on true story of the war for Algerian independence from France
rated PG
-
13 for war violence and torture
Black and White in Color
(
La
Victoire en chantant
/Noirs et Blancs en couleur)
(1976) Ivory Coast
French and Germans at war in Central Africa, during WWI
rated PG
Buud Yam
(1997) Burkina Faso
historical drama
based on oral tradition, a young man whose mother was killed as a witch tr
ies
to save his sister and avoid being called a witch himself
no rating
Ceddo
(1977) Senegal
set at the beginning of the colonial period, the Senegalese try to deal with the onslaught of
Muslims, Christians, and the French
no rating
African Movies List for HIWD 320
I have provided a list of films and documentaries that provide a glimpse into African history and life. All
of them have valuable qualities, as award-winning examples of African cinematic art, as illustrations of
African life, and as records of African history. However, sometimes as an element of that reflection and
sometimes as a result of artist choices in telling those stories, many of these films include elements that
are not in accordance with the Liberty Way and which reflect a non-Christian worldview or the horrific
results of non-Christian worldviews. As you select a movie to watch and review, I encourage you to make
your selection based on your interest in particular nations or issues and based on your own personal
preferences/conscience in these matters.
For each movie (besides the release date, nation produced in/by and/or the nation the film is set in, and
a brief synopsis), I have indicated areas that may be of concern for you, where I am aware of them.
Many films have not been rated, many have not been assessed for content, and some have been
recommended based on their cinematic or historical credentials, and not based on personal viewing, so
these notes are not complete. I strongly encourage you to use the “Parental Guide” feature available on
IMDb.com, which often notes particular issues with films, or to use other parental guides or movie
resources to determine possible issues with the film (for instance, a movie may be rated R because of
war-related violence, without any swearing or nudity; other films can be rated PG-13 with substantial
amounts of swearing or other impropriety).
If there is a different movie that you would like to watch, that you feel fits the requirements for this
assignment, please get in touch with your instructor for permission to substitute.
Films
The Battle of Algiers (1966) Italian/Algeria, set in Algiers
based on true story of the war for Algerian independence from France
rated PG-13 for war violence and torture
Black and White in Color (La Victoire en chantant/Noirs et Blancs en couleur) (1976) Ivory Coast
French and Germans at war in Central Africa, during WWI
rated PG
Buud Yam (1997) Burkina Faso
historical drama based on oral tradition, a young man whose mother was killed as a witch tries
to save his sister and avoid being called a witch himself
no rating
Ceddo (1977) Senegal
set at the beginning of the colonial period, the Senegalese try to deal with the onslaught of
Muslims, Christians, and the French
no rating
