To help you ease your way into our world, we have devised a the film difficulty ranking system to rate the difficulty of each film reviewed on our site. The easiest to watch films (the Rom-Coms and Superhero flicks that you watch anyway) will have a rating of 1. Foreign language films automatically add one point, as do black and white films, and films with strange and hard to follow plots. Welcome to Film Difficulty 2.
Film Difficulty Ranking 2: These films are perfect introductions to those new to foreign films. These one’s may have subtitles, or be in black and white, but these films are all easy to follow and enjoy.
If you know your John Hughes from your Richard Linklater, or your Stephen King from Stranger Things, this is the film for you. Zero Point is your classic high school film. There’s plenty of drama and enough gossip and bullying to keep you entertained throughout. It’s perfect for fans Dazed and Confused, Carrie, or Sixteen Candles.
The American Dream doesn’t just exist in the United States. In Men in the Arena you’ll meet two footballers trying to follow their dreams in a country that has banned football. It’s a documentary full of hope and optimism for a better future for Somalia and the Somali football team.
Nigerian Independence Day (October 1st) is fast approaching. A police officer is sent into unknown territory to investigate a string of murders. Can he solve them before Independence Day? For an African thriller which explores colonialism, religion, and tribalism, you can’t go wrong with this film. Plus it’s available on Netflix!
Why Watch October 1?
For a perfect gateway into Nigerian film (Nollywood)
It covers a lot – exploring tribalism, western imperialism, unification, racism, religion, colonialism, and more
To hear a range of languages – English, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo
It’s easy to watch – it feels much more like the easy-going South African Umbangothan the art-house Timbuktu
The Breakdown
October 1 starts under a red moon shining red light over the forest. A man chases a screaming woman through the forest until he catches her, rapes her, and leaves her dead on the forest floor.
It’s 1960. Police Officer Dan Waziri is sent to investigate the murders by a trio of English imperialists to ‘clean up’ Nigeria before it’s Independence Day on October 1st. As a Hausa man from the North, Dan Waziri is out of place in Akote. As an outsider, he faces many challenges in solving the case.
The characters provide the main talking point of the film. The trio of white men from the British colonial military are undeniably racist. Prince Aderopo of Akote is questionably for the continuation of British rule. Then there is Miss Tawa, a teacher who is preparing her classes for Nigerian independence. Among this group of characters, Dan is a mediator. He is neither outwardly for or against independence and shows no religious or political bias. He offers us an unbiased look at the political situation of Nigeria in 1960.
Conclusion
October 1 is brave to explore a range of controversial themes at the time of Nigerian independence. Whilst it does it bullishly, you’ll learn about the lasting impact that colonialism has had on Nigeria.
If you’re looking for an introduction to the calypso music of Panama, you’ve come to the right place. A Night of Calypso will introduce you to some of the torch bearers of the genre, bring you up to speed with it’s influences, and give you an overview of the history of Afro-Caribbean people in Panama. You’ll also get a free ticket to a night of calypso music courtesy of Grupo Amistad.
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