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TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP MOVIES
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Guelwaar
The African Film Library (AFL), the world's largest collection of award-winning African films, announced a rollout of great comedies on its online digital download service. This month FESPACO winner Max and Mona (2005 Oumarou Ganda Prize) and 2007 FESPACO Paul Robeson Award winner for Best Film by a Director from the African Diaspora, Le President A-T-IL le Sida (The President Has AIDS), join other comedies on the Video on Demand (VOD) site, www.africanfilmlibrary.com.
“It has long been said that laughter is the best medicine, however, in the African cinematic tradition is can also be claimed that laughter is the best educator. Filmmakers from the African continent have long held firm to the belief that film should be a medium through which audiences can not only be entertained, but also learn about themselves and their society,” said African Film Library Head of Sales, Acquisitions and Business Development Mandy Roger. “As a result, the political and social themes that dominate real-life headlines in African nations often make their way into the comedies made on the continent.”
Themes touched upon in the films include the aftereffects of colonialism and racism, the conflict of tradition versus modernity, and governmental power struggles. Films such as Bassek ba Kobhio’s Le Grand Blanc de Lamberéné and David Lister’s Soweto Green explore the background of Africa’s traumatic racial history and the hard-won cultural diversity now present throughout the continent. Likewise, films like Lambaaye and Mandabi (directed by Mahama Traore and Ousmane Sembène respectively) offer humorous takes on the African struggle for democracy and the bureaucratic systems often in place to both help and hinder the people’s cause. Shining a light on the battle between traditional African beliefs and Western culture facing many young Africans today are Laurence Ngabo’s, Gito L’ingrat and Max and Mona by Teddy Mattera.
These comedies and others, along with dramas, documentaries, thrillers and more, are available for rental. Film rentals are $5.00US, per 36-hour rental period.
Comedies in the African Film Library
Badou Boy (Bad Boy) by Djibril diop Mambéty
Le Franc by Djibril Diop Mambety
Gito, l'ingrat (Gito, the Ungrateful) by Laurence Ngabo
Guelwaar by Ousmane Sembène
Kini and Adams by Idrissa Ouédraogo
Lambaaye by Mahama Traore
Le Grand Blanc de Lamberene aka Great White Man of Lamberene by Bassek Ba Kobhio
Mandabi (Money Order) by Ousmane Sembène
Max and Mona by Tendeka Matatu
Ouaga Saga by Dani Kouyate
Pousse-Pousse (Rickshaw Tricycle Man) by Daniel Kamwa
Le President A-T-IL le Sida (The President Has AIDS)
Les Saignantes (The Bleeders) by Jean-Pierre Bekolo
Soweto Green by David Lister
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