After the tightly controlled, black-and-white world of "The White Ribbon", it was great to move south to Africa for two short films from Africa.
"Nora" was an autobiography of Nora C... (Will update her name when I get a chance), a Zimbabwean dancer now living and dancing in the US.
Shot in stunning high definition, it's been the most striking film from a photographic perspective.
Nora plays a number of parts in the film, including her mother, father and herself. Physically, she's slightly on the masculine side of androgynous and her intensely physical choreography (a blend of traditional African and modern dance styles) adapts well to either gender.
The second film in this screening was "un transport en commun" (or, "Saint Louis Blues" as its English title, depicts a mini-cab ride from Dakar to Saint Louis in Senegal.
Actually the cab is a battered old station wagon, piled high with luggage and stuffed with a driver and seven passengers.
During the course of an often interrupted journey, various characters break out into song, in the style (both cinematic and musical) of the classic American movies of the 30's and 40's). Most of the cast were non-professionals, lending a charmingly amateurish quality to the proceedings.
The director (Dyana Baye) of the second film was in the theatre. Although her English seemed quite strong, she apologized for the lack of an interpreter. As it turned out, it wasn't a problem -- the audience adapted by posing almost every question en français.
Q&a in french
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
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