Change Your Image
anneschumann
Reviews
The Figurine (2009)
About supernatural powers and the nature of fear
Three friends find a figurine reputed to have magical powers in a remote part of Nigeria and bring it back to Lagos. Suddenly their luck in life radically changes for the better, but when they meet again seven years later...
A brilliant film: it treats one of Nollywood's (Nigerian Hollywood) common themes - sorcery, witchcraft and the supernatural - in a novel way to ask questions about the nature of fear, and about the source of evil.
To lighten the suspense there are many wonderfully comic moments, multiple love interests, all played convincingly by a very talented cast. Could not recommend this highly enough!
Siraba, la grande voie (2003)
A moving film on the issues of tradition and modernity in West Africa
Even though this film has received less international attention than other African films (for example those made by famous film-maker Ousmane Sembene) it is a high quality film and an absolute must see. The film centres on the plan of a government minister to build a road through a sacred forest and the local community's resistance to this project. It explores the interlinking issues of tradition and modernity in a post-colonial setting, touching on themes such as religion, 'superstition', witchcraft, intergenerational relations and state-society relations. This is a profound, insightful film, and one of my favourites - don't miss it!