Dhalinyaro doesn’t tread the same paths of other African films set in Islamic countries. Instead of focusing on themes of patriarchy, tradition, or sexism that provides the main conflict in films like Papicha, Freedom Fields, Beauty and the Dogs, and Flesh Out, Dhalinyaro focuses on a fiercely independent trio of girls from modern Djibouti. Lula Ali Ismail’s debut feature, feels more like a companion to Celine Sciamma’s Girlhood or the first 20 minutes of Mounia Meddour’s Papicha with the friendship between three girls. It’s an impressive debut feature that is also the first film from Djibouti.

The main conflict of the film sits between the three girls. Their class differences are emphasized in the size and space of their houses, their everyday meals, and methods of transport (private vs. public). However, they’re also immediately distinguishable in the way that they dress. Hibo, a spoiled girl from a wealthy family shows the most skin, whilst Asma, from an underprivileged background is almost always fully covered. Deka, who sits in the middle in terms of class, is moderately dressed, serving as the middle ground between her two friends. Because she takes up the middle ground between Hibo and Asma, she’s the audience’s mediator in the relationship between the three girls.

Their backgrounds affect how they see the future. They all attend the same school, and are all good students, but the differing size of their support networks provide different opportunities to each of them. For Hibo, the most wealthy, her future is already decided. She will study abroad just like her sister, regardless of grades. For Asma, the poorest, her future is also decided. Her family cannot afford to send her abroad so she has no choice but to continue her studies in Djibouti no matter what grades she gets. Deka, our mediator, has the luxury of choice. She can decide to work hard and study abroad as her mother wants, or choose to study at home. In showing how the characters from different classes view their future, Lula Ali Ismail depicts the lack of class mobility in Djibouti. Asma will stay poor and Hibo will stay rich. Only Deka has the opportunity to change.

Dhalinyaro is a high school drama with depth and great character development. Hopefully it won’t be the last film we see from Lula Ali Ismail or Djibouti.

Cosy Dens

Cosy Dens Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you’re looking for a comedy beyond the Iron Curtain, check out Cosy Dens. You’ll meet a mixture of Czech families celebrating Christmas in the 1960s – some Bolsheviks, some apolitical, some fans of America. As with any big family Christmas, there’s a lot of arguments. These ones often get hilariously out of hand.

From: Czech Republic, Europe
Watch: Trailer, Watch on Amazon
Next: Closely Watched Trains, The Royal Tenenbaums, Toni Erdmann
Continue reading “Cosy Dens – Dark Humour in Communist Czechoslovakia”
The Black Pin

The Black Pin Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Why Watch The Black Pin?

  • If you like films set in quaint rural villages
  • To see how gentrification affects small rural towns around the world
  • For classic friendly dry humor
From: Montenegro, Europe
Watch: Trailer, IMDb
Next: Underground, The Flying Circus, Cosy Dens
Continue reading “The Black Pin – Gentrification in a Small Montenegrin Village”

Watch on Netflix or click the poster to buy on Amazon

Food Inc. Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Food INC. is one of the great documentaries to watch to open your eyes to the giant that is the food industry of the United States of America. You’ll learn what makes a McDonalds burger and how almost everything in Walmart contains some form of corn. But along with all the bad stuff you’re going to here (which will make you think twice about what you buy) you also learn how you can make a difference (which will also make you think twice about what you buy).

The simple answer: You can change the food industry and the world when you go to the supermarket and buy your food. Everything you buy is a vote for that product!

Check out the trailer below to find out more before you head to Netflix, YouTube, or Amazon to watch!

Why Watch Food Inc?
  • To learn where your food is coming from (mostly you America, but relevant to the whole world)
  • See how the food industry has been monopolised by a few big companies
  • Learn how you can change the world with what you eat
  • It’s on Netflix!
Shot from The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy who harnessed the wind Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you love entrepreneurship and seeing deserving, hard working kids succeed, you’ll love this film. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a humble success story of one bright kid in Malawi. It’s also a quick 101 of the causes of the Malawian famine, and a brilliant addition to the Netflix catalogue.

From: Malawi, Africa
Watch: Trailer, Watch on Netflix
Next: Queen of Katwe, October Sky, Not One Less
Continue reading “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – Invention Saves the Day”