In the past few years there has been an absolute explosion of quality films dealing with issues currently plaguing sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st century. In thinking about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, I am constantly reminded by the scandalous behavior of Western pharmaceutical companies in general in the African continent. No other film that I know of takes on the subject of pharmaceutical company corruption in sub-Saharan Africa with such tenacity as does Fernando Mierelles’ 2005 shocker The Constant Gardener. When it comes to constant warfare, Edward Zwick made a basic understanding of recent events in Sierra Leone accessible while at the same time highlighting the dirty game of diamond trade with his 2006 film Blood Diamond. Finally, although few films deal with the issues centering on the lives of displaced individuals as a result of war, Christopher Dillon Quinn and Tommy Walker do an excellent job with taking on the subject of refugees fleeing from Sudan to the United States as a result of that crisis in their 2006 documentary feature God Grew Tired of Us. Sean Fine and Andrea Nix take us right into a refugee camp housing displaced peoples in northern Uganda in their absolutely fascinating 2007 documentary feature War Dance. I highly recommend all of these films, and you can check out the trailers for all of them below.Tuesday, April 21, 2009
21st Century Sub-Saharan Africa Issues on Film
In the past few years there has been an absolute explosion of quality films dealing with issues currently plaguing sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st century. In thinking about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, I am constantly reminded by the scandalous behavior of Western pharmaceutical companies in general in the African continent. No other film that I know of takes on the subject of pharmaceutical company corruption in sub-Saharan Africa with such tenacity as does Fernando Mierelles’ 2005 shocker The Constant Gardener. When it comes to constant warfare, Edward Zwick made a basic understanding of recent events in Sierra Leone accessible while at the same time highlighting the dirty game of diamond trade with his 2006 film Blood Diamond. Finally, although few films deal with the issues centering on the lives of displaced individuals as a result of war, Christopher Dillon Quinn and Tommy Walker do an excellent job with taking on the subject of refugees fleeing from Sudan to the United States as a result of that crisis in their 2006 documentary feature God Grew Tired of Us. Sean Fine and Andrea Nix take us right into a refugee camp housing displaced peoples in northern Uganda in their absolutely fascinating 2007 documentary feature War Dance. I highly recommend all of these films, and you can check out the trailers for all of them below.
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16 comments:
oooo i think i have Blood Diamond at home...if i do ill watch it!
oh ahhh blood diamond is my absolute favorite movie ever, and ive seen it so so many times b ut every time i see it, it is still hard to believe. But now i really believe all of it...all these hardships in Africa is so bad. im really goning to remember this stuff, always.
the only movie i've seen on that list is Blood Diamond. & it was really good. i saw the whole thing about 3 times and each time it's still gets to me like the very first time. I want to see "God Grew Tired of Us" because it seems different then any other movie i've seen because the change these people go though is just remarkable. it'll be interesting to see people go from a very poor lifestyle to the luxury of the typical United States lifestyle. the movie also looks like a movie that will give you hope to change a persons life like the people in the movie.
&& the last movie, War dance seems so sad. im sure the stories the kids tell are touching.
I have seen blood diamond and didn't really understand it at the time but now knowing this I do understand it and it makes me even more mad to know that our country does not like immigrants when I would rather refer to them as refugees because the countries that i would consider them fleeing from are terrible. I just wish the people that say that they don't want the immigrants would learn about where they are coming from and think if they really wanted to live in those or if they would want someone like them to help.
"god Grew Tired Of us" sounds really interesting. it really makes u thinktwice abnout the everyday stuff we take for granted "warDance" sounds good too, mainly b/c we JUST had a discusion about how song/dance help ppl get through life in chorus today... and of couse, props to Blood Diamond!!!!
why don't u have "the last king of Scotland" on here? it was really good! not that i ever understood it ubntil now, but it was good even when i was ignorant!!
WOW! All of them look pretty life changing. I want to see all of them.
In these previews you can really see the oppression these people face. In the movie God grew Tired of Us you can see the amazement of all the people because they have never seen anything like it before. And the bloody war drove them to this point of migrating. In Blood Diamond you can see the government using horrible tactics to get what they want. The corruption of the government is threw the roof. They will kill anyone who gets in their way.
All of these films look amazing!
I'm very interested in "God Grew Tired of Us" and "War Dance." These Sudanese men were escaping from the horrors in their home country and left in hopes of a better life. Hearing that man's comment on electricity really showed how the West has really left Africa in the dust. But it's great to see these men who have gone and lived through so much to have the opportunity to live a better life. "War Dance" is an inspirational film to me. These children have been taken away from their families and are 'war children.' Yet they still find joy in life by looking towards music. If these children don't complain about being abducted and having experienced war, then what gives us the right to complain about our lifestyle? It's amazing to see how the power of music can bring these kids together and serve as some hope for them.
HEYY! these all look really good but I am DEFINITELY going to go get Blood Diamond and God Grew Tired Of Us. They look realllyy good. I didn't want the trailors to end. Hahaha.
Sapp.
I've seen Blood Diamond like nearly everyone else whose posted, but I want to definetly see the constant gardner because of its ties to the business world that seems to run much of society.
ok. all i have to say is that i'm crying now. after watching just the PREVIEWS of those films. i made my friend in canada watch them too, and she's thoroughly moved too.
there is a group of rwanadan refugees that go to my church. we helped welcome them. to hear the story of the rwandan lady who escaped with herself and two daughters is unbelievable. it makes me want to cry thinking about it. i don't think it's a story for writing, so i'm not going to post it.
but these films make me think of her and her family. and i find it happy that she's hear. but it's so disturbing to know that it's still going on. i'm partially african american, so africa has a special place with me [as it should anyone.] i'm going to stop ranting now. and changing africa is on this list of things to do before i die now.
am i the only one who hasnt seen blood daimond? i really need to watch this. now knowing the roots behing it makes it even more entriging,.
I've seen Blood Diamond. it is really good and shows the hardships of Africa. for example the brainwashing of children to be soldiers. its horrible
i watched all of these trailers and now i have a list of the movies that i need to see. i even got my mom in here and we have been reading these blog posts you put out together mr. prill! like u said ignorance is not bliss... so im sharin the education hahah
God Grew Tired of us interesting title, but by watching the trailer it made me think about what Africans actually had to do to get into the U.S
i just watch Wardance this weekend. it was a great movie! it opened my eyes to what has really happened to these orphans on a personal level.it was really horrible to hear the tragic stories, but so cool to see these orphans do something that they love, instead of giving up. This move gave us sense of light at the end of a tunnel, it was a story of hope. it just seemed so authentic in displaying the lives of kids in Africa, and i am so excited to get to spend time with them this summer!
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