Searching for Sugar Man

It was only fitting that the first film we watched South Africa was ‘Searching for Sugar Man’. The documentary is about an American singer, Rodriguez, whose two albums released in the 1970s failed miserably in the US. He gave up on his musical career and went back to his mundane life of construction work.

Somehow, unbeknownst to him, the albums made their way to South Africa and Rodriguez became immensely popular over the years. He was a household name; his albums treasured as much as Michael Jackson’s or the Beatles’. But nobody in South Africa knew anything about him, and presumed him dead. The movie is about a South African fan (later joined by others), who set out on a long journey looking for, and eventually finding Rodriguez.

The movie is very well-made, with some lovely shots of Cape Town, and is accompanied by the poignant music and lyrics of Rodriguez.

The Beauty of the Irrational

"The Beauty of the Irrational" follows Ryan Sandes, a South African Ultra-Runner, as he returns to the Fish River Canyon to run the 5 day, 84km, Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail in the fastest time possible. He completed the run, self-supported, in amazing time of 6h57min! Thanks for sharing, H.

The Beauty of the Irrational from The African Attachment on Vimeo.

Dave Sheldrick

Official Photos from Dave Sheldrick Postcards and Newsletter

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is an orphanage for Baby Elephants. It was started by Daphne Sheldrick to honour the memory of her husband David, who was a great naturalist. The couple served as the wardens of the Tsavo National Park in Kenya.

Baby elephants are orphaned for various reasons - some mothers die of natural causes, poachers are rampant and mothers are brutally killed for ivory while innocent babies look on, some mothers die when herds get caught in the middle of human conflict. However, it should be noted that most elephants are orphaned due to humans and their activities. Each year 19,000 African elephants are killed.

Once found, the baby elephants are brought to DSWT and hand-reared by a group of dedicated staff members using a special formula of milk whice Daphne took years to develop and perfect. After about three years of TLC, the elephants are taken back into the wild and rehabilitated with a herd. As they are young, they are easily accepted by the mother of the herd and the young ones learn to follow the rules of the herd. A noble initiative that is being well carried out. Another place of hope in an ugly world.
I was fortunate to visit the shelter and say hello to some of the sweet elephant babies there. The shelter also cares for rhinos, one of them completely blind, but at peace.

• Recent NPR Article on getting raincoats for these Baby Elephants.


• Read also about BBC's http://www.elephantdiaries.org/


• Official Website.


• My Photographs:
  
  
  
  
  

  Dave Sheldrick

Africa’s Lost Eden

The Gorongosa National Park is located in Mozambique, at the southern end of the Great East African Rift Valley. I learned about it first, from a National Geographic Documentary titled "Africa's Lost Eden". Trailer here.
The film explains how this wondrous park, once abundant with wildlife (and even known as ‘the place where Noah left his Ark’), saw almost all its wildlife completely wiped out due to the long civil conflict in Mozambique. A very large and courageous restoration project is now underway at Gorongosa; led by The Carr Foundation, a U.S. not-for-profit organization, and the Government of Mozambique. An attempt to relocate animals from national parks in other parts of Africa, with a hope that they will , help re-populate Gorongosa and someday bring it back to its former glory.

Official Website. Historic Photo Gallery.

The Lazarus Effect

Stunning documentary about how $0.40 a day can bring one back to life. Must watch.

Africa United

I am really looking forward to watching this movie. Looks like so much fun! An inspiring story about a group of children from Rwanda who set out on a road trip from Kigali to the opening ceremony of the 2010 world cup in South Africa.

Trailer. Official Website. BBC Interview.

Bébé(s)

I just watched this wonderful, funny, touching documentary film that follows the first year of 4 babies located around the world in Namibia, Mongolia, Tokyo and San Francisco. It was so interesting to see both, how similar and different the life of a baby is in different cultures in different parts of the world. The most stark difference was with the baby in Namibia. The little one was crawling around in the dirt, drinking water from a stream, putting fingers inside a stray dog's mouth and chewing a random bone in the dust. The film has no narration and yet, it is immensely interesting.

Watch French filmmaker Thomas Balmes speak about the film in this BBC clip.

Out of Africa - II

After hearing innumerable references to the film, I finally watched 'Out of Africa'. The film, which is based on a true story, and adapted from the writings of Karen Blixen, showcases various aspects of Kenya, notably:

• Kikuyu: Kenya's most populous ethnic group. Environmental and Political Activist and Author Waangari Maathai is Kikuyu.
• Maasai: an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania.
• Kenya's Natural Beauty: Aerial shots of the beautiful landscape reminded me of Yann-Arthus Bertrand's photograph of the Flamingos on Lake Nakuru in Kenya.
• Life in the early 1900s when the British controlled Kenya (then British East Africa).

I enjoyed the film very much (except the hunting scenes) and found it romantic and touching.

The film on Wiki, and the book it was based on.

Bill Bryson's Africa Diary

During Bill Bryson's visit to Kenya in 2002, he recorded his observations and published them in his African Diary. The book highlights the work of CARE International, an organization that helps the people of Africa help themselves through projects providing simple, sustainable solutions. Bryson donated all royalties from the book to CARE. The book is short, interesting and sprinkled with a good dose of Bryson's humor... he says that he expected Kenya to be like a setting from the film 'Out-Of-Africa'...!

Invictus

I just watched and liked, Invictus. The film is based on events that took place in 1995 in South Africa. Madiba* (Nelson Mandela) was released from prison in 1990 after 27 long years. He was then elected President of South Africa (see ANC) in 1994 in the historic, first multi-racial elections. When he took over, in his efforts to bring a broken nation together, he surpised everyone by supporting the Springboks, the National Rugby Team (which was made up mostly of Afrikaners). The Springboks (definitely the underdogs) went on the win the 1995 Rugby World Cup in what is considered one of the most momentous World Cup victories. Matt Damon plays the Springbok Captain Francois Pienaar. Read more about Invictus on Wiki.

* In South Africa Nelson Mandela is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela.

New Boy

Here is a fantastic short film written by Roddy Doyle. The film is about a Rwandan refugee's first day at his new Irish school. This was my favourite Oscar short last year.

Filmography of the Rwandan Genocide.

La Victoire sur les Sachets

An interesting short film by Sarkis, La Victoire sur les Sachets shows how plastic trash (20 tons of it) as used effectively in Africa to manufacture 2000 Djembés (musical instruments).

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Synopsis from Culture Unplugged: Ingenuity is at work in an African community where plastic bags are transformed from garbage into musical instruments. The film, created and produced by ART for The World is born under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and supported by the European Commission, French Government and SESC, Sao Paulo, Brasil, is a long feature composed by 22 short movies by filmmakers and artists from all over the world. Each short (documentary, fiction, drama, comedy, etc) is based on one of the major themes highlighted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: culture, development, dignity and justice, environment, gender and participation.

Goodbye Solo

Souleymane Sy Savane (Solo) and Red West in GoodBye Solo

Goodbye Solo is a film about a Senegalese cab driver (Solo) who encounters an aged man determined to commit suicide. Solo is also determined - to dissuade him. He tries hard to befriend and help him. Solo is a gentleman, a kind and loving person who embraces life and its hardships. As an immigrant working hard to make ends meet for his blossoming family, Solo's view of life is radically different and he struggles to understand William (Red West)'s decision.

Through the film, Solo talks fondly of life in Senegal, often breaking into (and muttering to himself in) French. Directed beautifully by Ramin Bahrani, the film is subtle, yet thought provoking and deeply moving.