A-Z Films

JACQUES ROUMAIN: PASSION FOR A COUNTRY

JACQUES ROUMAIN: PASSION FOR A COUNTRY

Regular price $245.00
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JACQUES ROUMAIN: PASSION FOR A COUNTRY

DIRECTED BY ARNOLD ANTONIN 
HAITI / 2008 / CREOLE AND FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 111 MIN

SYNOPSIS

This exploration of Haitian society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries focuses on the tormented life of one of Haiti’s most important authors and prominent political figures, Jacques Roumain. In his perceptive writings, Roumain raised questions about the issues facing Haiti that remain relevant today.

Some of Jacques Roumain’s best writings were translated by the legendary African-American poet Langston Hughes. The question is raised: what legacy has Jacques Roumain left for the future of Haitian youth.

For more information about Jacques Roumain click here. 

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Arnold Antonin
 

GENRES

  • Historical documentary 
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JOSEPHINE BAKER: BLACK DIVA IN A WHITE MAN'S WORLD

JOSEPHINE BAKER: BLACK DIVA IN A WHITE MAN'S WORLD

Regular price $245.00
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Josephine Baker: Black Diva in a White Man's World Trailer - ArtMattan Films from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

JOSEPHINE BAKER: BLACK DIVA IN A WHITE MAN'S WORLD 

DIRECTED BY ANNETTE VON WANGENHEIM
GERMANY, U.S. AND FRANCE / 2006 / ENGLISH, GERMAN, AND FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 45 MIN

SYNOPSIS

A tender, revealing documentary about one of the most famous and popular performing artists of the 20th century. Her legendary banana belt dance created theatre history; her song “J’ai deux amours” became a classic, and her hymn.

The film focuses on her life and work from a  perspective that analyses images of Black people in popular culture. It portrays the artist in the mirror of European colonial clichés and presents her as a resistance fighter, an ambulance driver during WWII, and an outspoken activist against racial discrimination involved in the worldwide Black Consciousness movement of the 20th century.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Annette von Wangenheim
 

GENRES

  • Documentary
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KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION
KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION
KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION
KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION

KAFE NEGRO: CUBA & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION

Regular price $395.00
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Kafe Negro Trailer from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

Kafe Negro: Cuba & The Haitian Revolution is a film that explores the social, economic & historical ramification of the Haitian Revolution on Cuba.

Kafe Negro tells the story of migrations around a small grain that became the second most important raw material on the global market. This film tells the story of the waves of migration of Haitian workers who, over time, profoundly transformed the culture and demographics of Cuba and developed coffee growing on the island.

Directed by Mario Delatour | Cuba & Haiti | 52min | 2020 | Documentary | French and Spanish with English subtitles

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KING BEHIND THE CAMERA

KING BEHIND THE CAMERA

Regular price $295.00
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KING AMPAW is a Germany trained Ghanaian filmmaker whose work has gained international recognition. Kukurantumi, The Road to Accra, winner Film Critics Award, FESPACO 1985, is one of two feature films - with No Time to Die - in this double set DVD "A KING BEHIND THE CAMERA" that offers a good-humored depiction of life in modern Ghana.

 

KUKURANTUMI: THE ROAD TO ACCRA 

DIRECTED BY KING AMPAW 
GHANA / 1983 / ENGLISH / 95 MIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFPNW_2tZuE

SYNOPSIS

In this revealing African comedy-drama that contrasts the hectic life in Accra, the capital of Ghana, with the relative peace of Kukurantumi, a rural town, a truck driver makes runs between the two locations with few problems until he is forced to replace his truck. In order to raise the money to get a new vehicle, he sells some stolen watches and promises his daughter in marriage to a rich merchant. Rebelling against this fate, the daughter runs off to Accra with her boyfriend -- but then nothing turns out quite like she had planned, and the rich merchant looks better with each passing day.

 

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: King Ampaw
Starring: Evans Oma
Starring: Amy Appiah
Starring: David Dontoh
 

GENRES

  • Drama and Comedy

NO TIME TO DIE 

DIRECTED BY KING AMPAW
GHANA AND WEST GERMANY / 2006 / ENGLISH / 95 MIN


SYNOPSIS

Death and funeral traditions play a significant role in African culture. No Time to Die is director King Ampaw’s contribution to passing the tradition onto the next generation.

A hearse driver meets and falls in love with a young, beautiful dancer who is planning an elaborate homegoing celebration for her mother. This love and comedy feature length film follows David as he does everything to win her affection.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Nick Hughes
Starring: Fritz Baffour
Starring: Kofi Bucknor
Starring: Agnes Dapaa
 

GENRES

  • Drama and Romantic Comedy 
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KINSHASA MAKAMBO
KINSHASA MAKAMBO
KINSHASA MAKAMBO
KINSHASA MAKAMBO

KINSHASA MAKAMBO

Regular price $395.00
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KINSHASA MAKAMBO

DIRECTED BY DIEUDO HAMADI
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, FRANCE, GERMANY, NORWAY, QATAR, SWITZERLAND/ 2018/ LINGALA | FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES/ 75 MIN

SYNOPSIS

In January 2015, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, sought a constitutional amendment that would allow him to be elected president for a third time.

This film documents the resulting demonstrations and follows three protagonists of the resistance. Ben, who lives in exile in New York, takes the advice of his fellow countrymen in exile and decides to join the struggle in the Congo. Jean Marie, who has just been released from prison, continues his public campaign for his country’s freedom and is persecuted by the secret service. Christian fights unperturbed in the streets of Kinshasa, even after former Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi, on whom the opposition had pinned their hopes, dies and the movement against Kabila’s extension of his time in office seems paralysed.

Should one resist in exile, or fight on the ground in the Congo? Should resistance be non-violent or should force be used if required? Filmed throughout with a handheld camera that stays very close to the protagonists, even in precarious conditions, Dieudo Hamadi explores the pros and cons of different forms of resistance.

 

DIRECTOR

Director: Dieudo Hamadi
 
 GENRE
  • Documentary
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KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS

KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS

Regular price $345.00
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Kirikou and the Sorceress Trailer - Art from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS 

DIRECTED BY MICHEL OCELOT 
SENEGAL AND FRANCE / 1998 / FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES OR DUBBED WITH ENGLISH / 70 MIN
RESTORED HD COPY AVAILABLE

SYNOPSIS

This animated film exquisitely recounts the tale of tiny Kirikou born in an African village in which Karaba the Sorceress has placed a terrible curse. Kirikou sets out on a quest to free his village of the curse and find out the secret of why Karaba is so wicked.

Lisa Nesselson of Variety (11/1/99) notes: "KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS employs snappy visuals to tell a catchy story for all ages. A blend of African folktales "Kirikou" has both humor and flair." KIRIKOU depicts a precocious newborn infant who battles ignorance, and so-called evil, with endearing perseverance. This film speaks to the child within us all who yearns to express and defend the best in others and ourselves. KIRIKOU's stunning visuals are accented by a traditional music soundtrack by African music giant Youssou N'Dour of Senegal.

"A blend of African folktales Kirikou has both humor and flair. Kirikou and the Sorceressemploys snappy visuals to tell a catchy story for all ages." - Lisa Nesselson of Variety 

“Kids will love Kirikou and the Sorceress, an offbeat carton feature about an alarmingly brainy tot. The lesson taught by Kirikou, that an evildoer actually is someone in pain, is a good one for kids to learn early” - The Record

“In its 16-year history, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival’s two juries – one comprising children, the other adults – had never given their top prized to the same film, until last year, when both juries honored Kirikou and the Sorceress, a beautifully animated first feature by French filmmaker Michel Ocelot about an African boy’s battle with an evil witch for the soul of his people. Filled with lessons about morality, bravery, selflessness and compassion, Kirikou and the Sorceress is top-shelf family entertainment.” - Chicago Tribune.

Kirikou and the Sorceress is magic from a clear sky. Dazzlingly painted images limn forth this folklore based animated feature by French-born, Guinea-raised Michel Ocelot. A newborn toddler whose simple powers are speed, mischief and ingenuity outwits an evil sorceress who comes on like a bead-bedecked Gloria Swanson. In the best tradition of National Geographic ethnography, everyone is naked, beads apart, and the scenery is gorgeous. Kirikou and the Sorceress is funny, charming, wise, beautiful, and exciting…” Arts section - Financial Times

"Should appeal to younger children and to adults who can appreciate its quiet pleasures." -- Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

 

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Michel Ocelot
 

GENRES

  • Animation
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KUESSIPAN
KUESSIPAN
KUESSIPAN
KUESSIPAN
KUESSIPAN
KUESSIPAN
KUESSIPAN
KUESSIPAN

KUESSIPAN

Regular price $395.00
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KUESSIPAN

The award-winning drama Kuessipan by Myriam Verreault was adapted from the acclaimed novel Kuessipan and co-written with the novel’s First Nation Canadian author Naomi Fontaine. Kuessipan means "your turn" in the Innu language, a title chosen to mark the notion that it is the Innu people's turn to tell their story.

“The Innu voice is ever present, which is so important as it offers a glimpse into their lives without a Colonial perspective. It's a feature that, while seemingly an obvious advantage, is hardly ever utilized for similar films. It means that audiences can enter the world in a respectful manner - which isn't to say the film shies away from the issues, but it does mean that those issues are approached in a confident and dignified way” writes Joel Kalkopf in his review for Switch.

The story follows two girls who grow up as best friends in a Quebec Innu community. While Mikuan has a loving family, Shaniss is picking up the pieces of her shattered childhood. As children, they promised each other to be lifelong friends. But as they mature, their lives take different paths, and their personal ambitions diverge leading them to a cultural and identity clash that tests their bond.

Directed by Myriam Verreault, Canada, 2019, 117min, Drama, Montagnais, French, English w/English subtitles

"Kuessipan is quiet and mesmerizing and tragic and full of hope. It is a triumph, and a privilege to spend time with." ~ Globe and Mail

"Myriam Verreault excels at crafting a film told through an Indigenous lens that discusses universal themes of friendship, identity, love, and heartbreak." ~ Exclaim!

"Kuessipan is a beautiful, un-sensationalized look at young womanhood, friendship and community." ~ NOW Toronto

"Heartbreakingly exploring Indigenous identity and the bonds that root us to a community, Kuessipan is a bold ode to young womanhood." ~ MUBI

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KUKURANTUMI; THE ROAD TO ACCRA

KUKURANTUMI; THE ROAD TO ACCRA

Regular price $295.00
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KUKURANTUMI: THE ROAD TO ACCRA 

DIRECTED BY KING AMPAW 
GHANA / 1983 / ENGLISH / 95 MIN

SYNOPSIS

In this revealing African comedy-drama that contrasts the hectic life in Accra, the capital of Ghana, with the relative peace of Kukurantumi, a rural town, a truck driver makes runs between the two locations with few problems until he is forced to replace his truck. In order to raise the money to get a new vehicle, he sells some stolen watches and promises his daughter in marriage to a rich merchant. Rebelling against this fate, the daughter runs off to Accra with her boyfriend -- but then nothing turns out quite like she had planned, and the rich merchant looks better with each passing day.

 

"One of the most celebrated Ghanaian films to emerge before the country’s video industry, Kukurantumi is intelligent filmmaking, situating the troubles of one family within the wider context of political corruption, poverty and class struggle within Ghanaian society." ~ Film Africa 2020

 

"Kukurantumi treats a formidable theme--the erosion of traditional values in a modernizing country--in an upbeat, engaging tale that takes place, fittingly, on the road connecting a rural village to the Ghanaian capital of Accra." ~  BERKELEY ART MUSEUM & PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: King Ampaw
Starring: Evans Oma
Starring: Amy Appiah
Starring: David Dontoh
 

GENRES

  • Drama and Comedy
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LA PLAYA D.C.

LA PLAYA D.C.

Regular price $295.00
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LA PLAYA D.C. 

DIRECTED BY JUAN ANDRES ARANGO GARCIA
COLOMBIA/BRAZIL/FRANCE / 2012 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 90 MIN

 

SYNOPSIS

Tomas,an Afro-Colombian teenager who fled the country's Pacific coast pushed out by the war, faces the difficulties of growing up in a city if exclusion and racism. When Jairo, his younger brother and closest friend disappears, Tomas plunges in the streets of the city. His search becomes an initiatory journey that compels him to face his past and to leave aside the influence of his is brothers in order to find his own identity. Through this journey, Tomas reveals a unique perspective of a vibrant and unstable city that, like Tomas, stands on the threshold between what once was and what might be.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Juan Andres Arango Garcia
Starring: Luis Carlos Guevara
Starring: Jamés Solís
Starring: Andrés Murillo
 

GENRES

  • Drama 
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LA ULTIMA RUMBA DE PAPA MONTERO (THE LAST RUMBA OF PAPA MONTERO)

LA ULTIMA RUMBA DE PAPA MONTERO (THE LAST RUMBA OF PAPA MONTERO)

Regular price $295.00
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LA ULTIMA RUMBA DE PAPA MONTERO (THE LAST RUMBA OF PAPA MONTERO) 

DIRECTED BY OCTAVIO CORTAZAR 
CUBA AND MARTINIQUE / 1992 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 52 MIN

SYNOPSIS

A fascinating film on the rhythmic dance genre known as Rumba, La Ultima Rumba de Papa Montero dances around the life of Papa Montero, one of the famous rumberos of Cuba, assassinated during carnival. A discovery of Cuban traditions and every day life told through beautiful images, sensual music and dance. The use of Afro-Cuban mythology is the force behind the characters as orishas guide the characters' fate.

 

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Nick Hughes
Starring: Eric Bridges Twahirwa
Starring: Cleophas Kabasita 
Starring: Davis Kagenza 
 

GENRES

  • Docu-drama 
  • DVD Afro-Cuba: Yesterday and Today which also includes Sara Gomez: An Afro-Cuban Filmmaker.
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LOIMATA, THE SWEETEST TEARS
LOIMATA, THE SWEETEST TEARS
LOIMATA, THE SWEETEST TEARS
LOIMATA, THE SWEETEST TEARS

LOIMATA, THE SWEETEST TEARS

Regular price $395.00
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With Ema diagnosed with terminal cancer, the Siope family searches for healing by confronting  intergenerational trauma head on and returning to their homeland of Sāmoa.

The redemptive tale of waka builder and captain Lilo Ema Siope’s final years, the stunning LOIMATA, The Sweetest Tears is a chronicle of journeys. Confronting intergenerational trauma head on, the Siope family returns to their homeland of Sāmoa. For Ema’s father, this is his first time back to his birthplace since leaving in 1959. The result is a poignant yet tender story of a family’s unconditional love for each other, and a commitment to becoming whole again.

By Anna Marbrook, New Zealand / Sāmoa. 2021, 94 minutes, Documentary, English & Samoan with English subtitles

"I walked into this film expecting to see a portrait of a world-renowned ship builder, navigator and sailor, undertaking one of the final voyages of her life. And, in a way, that is what Loimata is. But not in the way I was assuming it would be." ~ stuff.co.nz

Themes: First Nation / Women / Sexual Abuse / LGBTQ+ / Family / Healing 

AWARDS:

FIFO (Festival International du Film Documentaire Océanien), 2021 
Grand Prix du Jury 

NZTV Awards, 2021
Best Documentary, Winner
Best Director, Nominee

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LOOKING FOR LIFE (CHERCHER LA VIE)

LOOKING FOR LIFE (CHERCHER LA VIE)

Regular price $195.00
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LOOKING FOR LIFE (CHERCHER LA VIE) 

DIRECTED BY CLAUDETTE COULANGES
HAITI AND GERMANY / 1999 / CREOLE WITH FRENCH AND ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 60 MIN

 

SYNOPSIS


Looking for Life introduces the viewer to two women, Anne-Rose and Rosemene, who each one has their own particular way of battling through life. The former makes lunches in a factory yard in Port-au-Prince and sells her meals to the factory workers; the latter is employed in the same factory as a production worker making pullovers and T-shirts. Every day she buys her midday meal on credit from Anne-Rose. Through the connection between these two women the film shows part of their daily work and the constant battle for survival that they lead together with other women in Haiti. Going beyond this, however the film demonstrates the extent to which the importation of North American goods has brought about the collapse of Haitian regional production and ruined Haiti's economy. The connection between the two topics of the film reveals the significant role that Haitian women of today play in an economy that has been bled dry.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Claudette Coulanges
 

GENRES

  • Documentary

 

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Ludi

Ludi

Regular price $395.00
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Trailer LUDI Art.mp4 from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

"Ludi," directed by Edson Jean, is a compelling exploration of the Haitian immigrant experience set in the vibrant community of Little Haiti in Miami. The film follows the resilient protagonist, Ludi, portrayed by the talented Shein Mompremier, as she grapples with the challenges of forging a new life in America. In the pursuit of the elusive American dream, Ludi confronts the harsh realities of the immigrant experience.

Edson Jean's directorial finesse captures the nuances of cultural identity, economic struggle, and the indomitable spirit that propels individuals to persevere against adversity.  The film not only sheds light on the immigrant narrative but also serves as a poignant reflection on the strength and resilience of those who dare to seek a better life in a new land. "Ludi" stands as a significant contribution to the cinematic exploration of diasporic experiences within the Afro-Caribbean context.

Directed by Edson Jean, USA, 2021, 81 Minutes, drama, English and Haitian Creole with English subtitles

"Jean's "Ludi" is the type of low-stakes drama that's easy to root for, and even more wonderful to see" - Robert Daniels, The Playlist

"This is one of the best films of the year so far, and that comes as a result of the hard work and dedication from everyone involved." - Kyle Bain, Film Threat

"An examination of the difficulties inherent in that so-called American Dream, with a magnetic lead performance from Shein Mompremier. Ludi is a charming, tragic, painful, and beautiful film to behold." -Aaron PetersonHollywood Outsider 



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MADE IN BANGLADESH
MADE IN BANGLADESH
MADE IN BANGLADESH
MADE IN BANGLADESH
MADE IN BANGLADESH
MADE IN BANGLADESH
MADE IN BANGLADESH
MADE IN BANGLADESH

MADE IN BANGLADESH

Regular price $395.00
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MADE IN BANGLADESH

Shimu, 23, works in a clothing factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Faced with difficult conditions at work, she decides to start a union with her co-workers.

Despite threats from the management and disapproval of her husband, Shimu is determined to go on. Together the women must fight and find a way.

Directed by Rubaiyat Hossain, Bangladesh/France/Denmark/Portugal , 2019, 95min, social drama, English & Bengali w/English subtitles

* Toronto Intl Film Festival - Contemporary World Cinema
* London BFI
* Stockholm International Film Festival - Competition Films from the South

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MALUALA

MALUALA

Regular price $245.00
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MALUALA 

DIRECTED BY SERGIO GIRAL
CUBA / 1979 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 95 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Maluala takes us into a palenque, a settlement of escaped slaves hidden somewhere in Cuba's eastern mountains, where discord is sown between black "kings" by clever subversives working for the Spanish government.

"Sergio Giral is the best known of the Black Cuban directors and his previous films were historical observations of the period of slavery in Cuba, the gradual rise of rebellion against colonial traditions, and the ultimate freedom that resulted. Maluala is the most striking addition to this genre. The action takes place during the last century in the region of Maluala. Gallo, the black chieftain, together with his cohort, Coba, present a petition for land and liberty to the colonial government. Governor Escudero offers liberty if the rebellious villages will be dismantled and their men offer themselves in surrender. He promises that they will be freed shortly thereafter. Three chieftains agree, but Gallo and Coba refuse... Giral has mounted Maluala with colorful ritual and acting. Samuel Claxton, as Gallo, is highly stylized in the heroic tradition. It is an absorbing adventure film wrought from historical events which appear violent, but Giral constantly implants into every image the necessity for unity among people in order to combat man's seemingly casual desire to subjugate mankind, in the struggle for power and undefined ambition." 
~ /San Francisco Film Festival, 1980/

"The historically lucid intrigues of Maluala (1979), where the Afrocentric leadership of fugitive palenque communities is pitted against each other COINTELPRO-style by Spanish colonists, is one of those Cuban films that were forged in a righteous, red-hot ferment but still found the courage and wit to ask questions about the society around them." ~ Gary Dauphin, The Village Voice

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Sergio Giral
Starring: Samuel Claxton
Starring: Adolfo Llauradó
Starring: Raúl Pomares
 

GENRES

  • Historical Drama 
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MAMA AFRICA: MIRIAM MAKEBA + ACES

MAMA AFRICA: MIRIAM MAKEBA + ACES

Regular price $395.00
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MAMA AFRICA: MIRIAM MAKEBA

DIRECTED BY MIKA KAURISMÄKI
SOUTH AFRICA AND GERMANY / 2011 / ENGLISH / 90 MIN


SYNOPSIS

Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba focuses on the life and influence of the South African singer and civil rights activist, Miriam Makeba. The film's segment concerning her time in the USA is particularly significant, as it showcases her impact on the Civil Rights Movement and her artistic collaborations in the country.

During her time in the United States, Makeba's music and activism became deeply intertwined with the African-American experience. Her marriage to Stokely Carmichael, a prominent figure in the Black Panther Party, marked a crucial period where her artistry and advocacy for African rights gained prominence, but also led to controversy and eventual exile from the USA. The documentary explores how Makeba used her voice not only to enchant American audiences with her music but also to raise awareness about the struggles against apartheid in South Africa, making her a vital cultural and political link between Africa and the African-American community.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Mika Kaurismäki
Starring: Hugh Masekela
Starring: Angélique Kidjo
Starring: Harry Belafonte
 

GENRES

  • Documentary

 

BONUS FILM

ACES

DIRECTED BY NTANDAZO "DIDI" GCINGCA 
SOUTH AFRICA / 1999 / ENGLISH / 17 MIN


SYNOPSIS

Aces is the story of a young man who fights against the battering of his mother by his drunken father. The situation escalates until Ace desperately stabs his father to death, and is sent to jail for a period of 15 years. Nine years later he is out on parole. He kills again within a day's time of his release.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Ntandazo "Didi" Gcingca 
GENRE
  • Short Drama


 

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MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

Regular price $445.00
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MARIGHELLA

After fighting censorship for two years in Brazil, MARIGHELLA became #1 at the Box Office in Brazil.

Marighella is a new Brazilian action drama set in 1969 based on the life of Afro-Brazilian politician and guerrilla fighter Carlos Marighella. Facing a violent military dictatorship and with little support from a timid opposition, writer-turned-politician Carlos Marighella organizes a resistance movement. Alongside revolutionaries 30 years younger than him and willing to fight, the revolutionary leader opts for action. The film is adapted from the biography Marighella - O Guerrilheiro que Incendiou o Mundo, by Mario Magalhaes. Brazilian musical artist, songwriter, and actor Seu Jorge plays Carlos Marighella.

Directed by Wagner Moura, 2019, Brazil, 155min, historical action drama, Portuguese w/ English subtitles

* Berlinale 2019 | Official Selection - Out of Competition
* INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT CRITICS PRIZE (Premio Giuseppe Becce)
* ONE OF SCREEN CRITICS' TOP FILMS FROM BERLIN 2019

"Angry and brutally necessary for the Brazil of today, Marighella is put together coolly and confidently by the green [Wagner] Moura." ~ One Room With A View

"Marighella works fine as an exciting and highly assured debut, with a terrific ensemble cast at its heart." ~ Hollywood Reporter

Visit film site 

 

THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

DIRECTED BY JOEL ZITO ARAUJO
BRAZIL / 1997 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 38 MIN

SYNOPSIS

On March 13, 1992, Vicente Francisco do Espirito Santo, a Black Brazilian who worked in a government-owned electricity company, was fired from his job.  It did not take long for him to realize that his dismissal was directly linked to his skin color.  Encouraged by his union and a strong Black empowerment movement, he began a judicial process which he won, and as a result was reinstated in his former position.  This informative documentary about an unknown victory illustrates how the courts of Brazil did recognize the company's prejudice and racism in a country where such realities are usually dismissed as atypical. 

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MARY LOU WILLIAMS: THE LADY WHO SWINGS THE BAND

MARY LOU WILLIAMS: THE LADY WHO SWINGS THE BAND

Regular price $295.00
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MARY LOU WILLIAMS TRAILER from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

MARY LOU WILLIAMS: THE LADY WHO SWINGS THE BAND

DIRECTED BY CAROL BASH
U.S.A. / 2015 / ENGLISH / 70 MIN

SYNOPSIS

She was ahead of her time, a genius. During an era when Jazz was the nation's popular music, Mary Lou Williams was one of its greatest innovators. As both a pianist and composer, she was a font of daring and creativity who helped shape the sound of 20th century America. And like the dynamic, turbulent nation in which she lived, Williams seemed to redefine herself with every passing decade.

From child prodigy to "Boogie-Woogie Queen" to groundbreaking composer to mentoring some of the greatest musicians of all time, Mary Lou Williams never ceased to astound those who heard her play. But away from the piano, Williams was a woman in a "man's world," a black person in a "whites only" society, an ambitious artist who dared to be different, and who struggled against the imperatives of being a "star." Above all, she did not fit the (still) prevailing notions of where genius comes from or what it looks like. Time and again, she pushed back against a world that said, "You can't" and said, "I can." It nearly cost her everything.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Carol Bash
Starring: Alfre Woodard
Starring: Geri Allen
Starring: Carmen Lundy
 

GENRES

  • Documentary
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MESTIZO

MESTIZO

Regular price $195.00
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MESTIZO 

DIRECTED BY MARIO HANDLER 
VENEZUELA / 1989 / SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES  / 82 MIN

SYNOPSIS

The action takes place in a village on the Venezuelan coast, a place of fishermen and big haciendas. Jose Ramon, son of a white aristocrat and a humble black fisher-women, is trying to define his own identity while dealing with social and sexual conflicts, power, culture, the law, and the impossible relationship he has with both his parents.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Mario Handler
Starring: Marcos Moreno
Starring: Zezé Motta
Starring: Aldo Tulian
 

GENRES

  • Drama 
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MINGA and the Broken Spoon
MINGA and the Broken Spoon
MINGA and the Broken Spoon
MINGA and the Broken Spoon
MINGA and the Broken Spoon
MINGA and the Broken Spoon
MINGA and the Broken Spoon
MINGA and the Broken Spoon

MINGA and the Broken Spoon

Regular price $395.00
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Minga and The Broken Spoon Trailer - ArtMattan from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

MINGA and the Broken Spoon

A charming animation for the entire family, this African fable tells the story of Minga, an orphaned girl living with her stepmother MamiKaba and her stepsister Abena. One day, when she washes the dishes in the river, she accidentally brakes a spoon. A furious MamiKaba chases her away from the house, asking her to find the only identical spoon hidden by her late mother. An adventurous journey then begins for Minga in the forest.

 Minga and the Broken Spoon is the first feature-length animated film entirely conceived and produced in Cameroon and is loosely based on “The Broken Spoon,” the famous African tale. The film is a vibrant tribute to Cameroon’s rich cultural diversity, while being a source of entertainment for the young and old alike.

By Claye Edou, Cameroon , 2019, 80 mins, animation in English.

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Mother Suriname / Mama Sranan

Mother Suriname / Mama Sranan

Regular price $395.00
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Mama Suriname (Mama Sranan)

Mother Suriname – Mama Sranan is a deep and evocative portrayal of Suriname's history and the personal story it weaves. Its effectiveness in bringing Surinamese history to life, makes it a significant contribution to understanding the country's cultural and historical landscape.

A woman looks back on her life, through narration and song. In Mother Suriname – Mama Sranan, filmmaker Tessa Leuwsha uses a stream of fascinating colorized archival footage to illustrate the lives of Surinamese women like her grandmother, who was a washerwoman.

She’s born in a hamlet in 1905 to a white mother and a black father—a disgrace. Her father is forced to leave and her mother also disappears. She’s despised as a half-caste, does not go to school and soon becomes aware of the state of colonial relations (“we work and they watch”). She has a child whose father is always elsewhere, working for the Dutch. Determined to make the most of her life, she moves to Paramaribo, where she has three more children she raises on her own.

Meanwhile, she sees her homeland moving towards more self-esteem. Before Suriname’s independence in 1975 however, all her children move to the Netherlands—and she eventually follows them, with sorrow in her heart: “In Holland, paradise is like a shadow, just in front of you or behind you, never with you.” Still, strong-willed as she is, she finds a place where she connects with her homeland, her spiritual roots and herself.

"Not only a biography but also a portrait of a colony on the road to independence." ~ Pauline Kleijer for De Volkskrant 

"A breathtaking journey through the history of Suriname." ~ Guus Schulting for De Filmkrant

Directed by Tessa Leuwsha, 2023, 71 minutes, Documentary, Netherlands, Dutch (with English subtitles)

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MOTO TAXI / BENDSKINS
MOTO TAXI / BENDSKINS
MOTO TAXI / BENDSKINS
MOTO TAXI / BENDSKINS

MOTO TAXI / BENDSKINS

Regular price $395.00
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MOTO TAXI / BENDSKINS

MOTO TAXI, Narcisse Wandji's first feature film, explores questions and concerns related to the daily life of three Cameroonians, two men and a woman, who manage to make a living working as motorcycle taxis.

Sani, Marie and Franck are three young moto-taxi drivers with unique destinies and stories. Sani has to face Charles, his employer and also father of Samedi, his girlfriend, who is pregnant with his child. Marie, raped five years ago, tries to find Tom, her rapist. And Franck, on his side, must do everything to get rid of the lifeless body of an 8 month old child.

In Moto Taxi, Narcisse Wandji refers both visually and through the dialogues in his film to some important auteurs in African Cinema. Quartier Mozart by Jean-Pierre Bekolo is mentioned casually in a conversation while a Moto Taxi driver explains that the corn on his motorcycle was inspired by Djibril Diop Mambety’s Touki Bouki.

These references reassure the cinephiles looking for cinematic innovation. The question of cultural identity remains at the heart of the auteur’s work while he/she strives to give a universal feel to his/her creation. “ Pierre Patrick Touko.

Directed by Narcisse Wandji, Cameroon, 2021, 90 mins, drama, French (with English subtitles)

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Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans
Music Pictures: New Orleans

Music Pictures: New Orleans

Regular price $395.00
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Music Pictures: New Orlean Trailer Art from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

Music Pictures: New Orleans gives us legacy portraits and a rare backstage access into the lives and craft of four New Orleans music legends: Grammy-winning vocalist known as “The Soul Queen of New Orleans” Irma ThomasLittle Freddie King, one of the last original bluesmen who at the age of 81 still performs live; the world renowned Tremé Brass Band, a fixture in the New Orleans jazz community; and Ellis Marsalis - father of internationally acclaimed musician, composer and bandleader Wynton Marsalis - the patriarch of the famed jazz family who helped found the modern jazz scene in the 1950s. 

Music Pictures: New Orleans is a vibrant documentary exploring the rich musical heritage of New Orleans. It showcases the city’s diverse musical landscape, from legendary jazz clubs to lively street performances, highlighting the influences of Creole, African American, and French cultures. The film delves into how historical events, including Mardi Gras and Hurricane Katrina, have shaped the city’s music scene. Through interviews with local musicians and historians, it reveals music's role in the city’s cultural and social fabric, celebrating genres like jazz, blues. This documentary offers an insightful glimpse into the resilience and cultural dynamism of New Orleans, making it a valuable resource for those interested in music history and cultural studies.

Directed by Ben Chace, 2022, USA, 72 Min, Documentary, English

"Music Pictures: New Orleans is a pleasantly entertaining, early 2020s snapshot of four influential artists in blues and jazz." - Culture Mix

"Sometimes if you’re tired of documentaries that try to push a one-sided political message, a musical documentary can fix that. The documentary Music Pictures: New Orleans is an insightful documentary of a town with a century of a music legacy." ~ Jon The Blogcentric.org

" Music Pictures: New Orleans is a great documentary showcasing musicians, both individuals and groups, and how their sound has an impact not only on the sounds of New Orleans but on musical genres as a whole. It’s as much about its past legacy as it is about its present and future." ~ Jon The Blogcentric.org

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MUSIC PICTURES: NEW ORLEANS & MARY LOU WILLIAMS, THE LADY WHO SWINGS THE BAND

MUSIC PICTURES: NEW ORLEANS & MARY LOU WILLIAMS, THE LADY WHO SWINGS THE BAND

Regular price $395.00
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Experience the essence of jazz and blues in two captivating documentaries! Music Pictures: New Orleans by Ben Chace features legends like Irma Thomas and Ellis Marsalis, while Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band by Carol Bash delves into the life of the groundbreaking Mary Lou Williams.

Music Pictures: New Orlean Trailer Art from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

MUSIC PICTURES: NEW ORLEANS

Music Pictures: New Orleans gives us legacy portraits and a rare backstage access into the lives and craft of four New Orleans music legends: Grammy-winning vocalist known as “The Soul Queen of New Orleans” Irma ThomasLittle Freddie King, one of the last original bluesmen who at the age of 81 still performs live; the world renowned Tremé Brass Band, a fixture in the New Orleans jazz community; and Ellis Marsalis - father of internationally acclaimed musician, composer and bandleader Wynton Marsalis - the patriarch of the famed jazz family who helped found the modern jazz scene in the 1950s. 

Directed by Ben Chace, 2022, USA, 72 Min, Documentary, English

MARY LOU WILLIAMS TRAILER from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

MARY LOU WILLIAMS: THE LADY WHO SWINGS THE BAND

She was ahead of her time, a genius. During an era when Jazz was the nation's popular music, Mary Lou Williams was one of its greatest innovators. As both a pianist and composer, she was a font of daring and creativity who helped shape the sound of 20th century America. And like the dynamic, turbulent nation in which she lived, Williams seemed to redefine herself with every passing decade.

Directed by Carol Bash, 2015, USA, 70 min, Documentary, English

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