The 2011 edition of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival closed with one of its finest films: Life, Above All. The film explores the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on families and communities- although Chanda’s South African township residents invent all sorts of stories to avoid naming the disease. Lead Actress Khomotso Manyaka delivers a stunning performance in striving to maintain her friendship and family bonds, even in the face of intolerance and rejection.

For all of its beautiful cinematography, the film leaves viewers wanting some political and historical contexts. Nevertheless, filmmaker Oliver Schmitz’s artful treatment of the emotional journeys of the main characters is compelling. The film also raises the plight of children left orphan by HIV/AIDS. Life, Above All is set for US theatrical release on July 15, 2011.

Dir. Paula van der Oest. New York, 25 April 11 by Dr. Steeve Coupeau, Home ed: NYIHA MEDIA, Film Review Archive April 26 2011. http://www.nyiha.com/FEATURES.html

In Black Butterflies, Carice Van Houten delivers a strong performance in the role of young South African poet Ingrid Jonker. Rejected by her father who was an ideologue of apartheid, Ingrid longs for an accepting home and the warmth of love. Ingrid is now an icon in South Africa but it was not until Nelson Mandela read her poem “The Child who was shot dead by soldiers in Nyanga” in his first speech to the South African parliament that she finally acquired widespread recognition.

The film, which was shot on location in and around Cape Town, South Africa, is interesting in its portrayal of this strong-headed, overly sensitive lead character, which ultimately descended into hell in spite of the support from the famous writer Jack Cope and her loyal friends. The film had several powerful scenes including a rally to burn passes and for the end of apartheid. Black Butterflies premieres at Tribeca Film Festival this week as the Dutch entry for the World Narrative Competition.

AFRO-COSTA RICA

AFRO-COLOMBIA  

GOOD SPEAKERS

Dir. Hilda Hidalgo. New York 16 April 2011, Home ed: NYIHA MEDIA, Film Review Archive, 26 April 2011. http://www.nyiha.com/FEATURES.html

HFFNY Closed with a Bang with “Of Love and Other Demons” by Dr. Steeve Coupeau 16 April 2011 The 12th Edition of the Havana Film Festival in New York closed successful at the midtown premise of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in New York on 15 April 2011. The closing night was a celebration of filmmakers and moviegoers who keep the festival alive and interesting.

The festival closed with the New York Premiere of Del Amor y Otro Demonios (Of Love and Other Demons), a powerful film about the forbidden love story of Sierva María based on the novel by García Márquez. When a rabid dog bites María in a local market, the bishop declares her possessed on non-scientific basis and orders her exorcism, but the assigned priest and the girl find themselves seduced by a demon more powerful than faith and reason.  This 97 minute long film is powerful in its representation of the political-religious conflict between the local hierarchy of the Catholic Church and native religious practitioners, who are accused of worshiping the devil. A diverse cast of successful actors portrayed the characters so well that the film received the blessing of Garcia Marquez. Costa Rican director Hilda Hidalgo is to be commended for her adaption of this famous work and an excellent job in crafting this beautifully rendered film. This film received various awards and citations including 1) Third Coral at Festival del Nuevo Cine Latino americano, Cuba 2) Best Art Direction at Ceara Film Festival, Brazil; 3) Costa Rica’s Submission for the 83rd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film 2010, U.S.A.

Sweet Crude: A film directed by Sandy Cioffi and produced by Leslye Wood. Running Time: 93 minutes.

One of the best films to emerge from the Independent Film Center’s Documentary Film festival is Sweet Crude, a documentary that captures how oil affects every aspect of life in Nigeria since oil discovery in 1956. From one of the richest estuaries in the region, Nigeria is fast becoming one of the most polluted landscapes. Fishing families are hard pressed as the fishes are dying and the aquatic life is being destroyed by improper oil exploitation by multinational corporations, notably Shell and Chevron. The alchemy of oil and guns in unmistakable as more than 50,000 Nigerians have been killed by military bullets in defense of oil production. If the notion of “blood diamond” is now part of our lexicon, Sweet Crude raises the notion of “blood oil”. 

The movie gives voice to community activists, who presented their claims for (1) demilitarization as a prelude to negotiation and real investments in communities; (2) respect for the “Bill of Rights” which promised fairness in the distribution of shared revenues deriving from oil production; (3) remapping of how oil revenues are shared to ensure that revenues reach local populations, not just politicians. Some 13 percent of the 60 percent of the 60 billion annual revenues owed to the State of Nigeria are allocated to localities but seldom reach affected populations. 

In Therapy by José Alvarenga Jr. Comedy, 35mm, Color, 93 min, 2009 in Portuguese with English Subtitles.

The 7th Cine Fest Petrobras New York opened with an outdoor movie screening of If I were you 2 on August 2nd 2009 at Central Park Summerstage and ended on August 7th 2009 at Tribeca Cinemas.

There were many powerful movies screened at this film fest.  Amongst them, one stands out, In Therapy, a comedy that captured transformations in the life of lead actress, Mercedes, while undergoing therapy. The 40 some year old Mercedes lives through a cascade of life changing experiences in both her private and professional lives. Moviegoers enjoy the comical and spicy encounters between Mercedes and people, new and old, in her life including Mercedes’ best friend, Monica. In the end, Mercedes discovers her new self and the public enjoyed the complexity of modern life in urban settings in Brazil including an all too brief scene on interracial dating.  This enjoyable comedy, beautiful shot in high definition, would appeal to a broad American and Western public accustomed to self-discovery in therapy.