Directed by: Kim Nguyen
Starring: Rachel Mwanza, Serge Kanyinda, Mizinga Mwinga
Running Time: 90 min.
This Canadian entry for Best Foreign Language in this year's Oscar tells a harrowing and gut wrenching story from an unnamed country in Africa. It could be anywhere, but the exact location is not important since this thing can happen in any country.
Is this a new trend in Canadian cinema, making movies that takes place entirely on foreign soil that sells good for film festivals around the world just like Incendies? I am still looking for a Canadian film that tells story about Canadian living in Canada with Canadian problems in it. I know it existed somewhere.
Harrowing and will leave a bad taste in your memory about the cruelty in Africa, the story is about Komona (Rachel Mwanza) a 12 year old girl kidnapped by band of rebel army to become a child soldier. Her first act is to kill her own parents. Haunted by her parents ghost, Komona must adapt to the harsh life of a child soldier where he met a fellow soldier named Magician (Serge Kanyinda) an albino African.
After some shootout with the government forces where Komona survives, Komona promoted to be the witch of the band. Apparently superstition and 'black magic' still had powers there. Cannot stand the harsh life of being a child soldier, Komona and Magician runs away and try to start a new life. But more unspeakable tragedy ensues.
With no Canadian in this film the language used is French and Lingala (the language spoken in Congo), and it does not rely on cheap stunt to draw sympathy. Things flows as it is and makes you wonder that life is hard, too hard for these people who have no choice to make their living.
Rachel Mwanza herself was a street kid in Kinshasa and won best actress prize at Tribeca Film Festival. I always liked it when a director put unknown names on screen instead of marquee name, it tells the story more natural and believable.
Is this a new trend in Canadian cinema, making movies that takes place entirely on foreign soil that sells good for film festivals around the world just like Incendies? I am still looking for a Canadian film that tells story about Canadian living in Canada with Canadian problems in it. I know it existed somewhere.
Harrowing and will leave a bad taste in your memory about the cruelty in Africa, the story is about Komona (Rachel Mwanza) a 12 year old girl kidnapped by band of rebel army to become a child soldier. Her first act is to kill her own parents. Haunted by her parents ghost, Komona must adapt to the harsh life of a child soldier where he met a fellow soldier named Magician (Serge Kanyinda) an albino African.
After some shootout with the government forces where Komona survives, Komona promoted to be the witch of the band. Apparently superstition and 'black magic' still had powers there. Cannot stand the harsh life of being a child soldier, Komona and Magician runs away and try to start a new life. But more unspeakable tragedy ensues.
With no Canadian in this film the language used is French and Lingala (the language spoken in Congo), and it does not rely on cheap stunt to draw sympathy. Things flows as it is and makes you wonder that life is hard, too hard for these people who have no choice to make their living.
Rachel Mwanza herself was a street kid in Kinshasa and won best actress prize at Tribeca Film Festival. I always liked it when a director put unknown names on screen instead of marquee name, it tells the story more natural and believable.
No comments:
Post a Comment