Strands Best Films- Page 36 of 41

176

Murder in Pacot (Haiti) – The Earthquake Reveals All

Murder in Pacot Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Do you want some drama? Well this film has plenty. In Murder in Pacot, Peck shines a light on all of the tensions that the earthquake revealed. You’ll hear fierce arguments from the start between Haitian’s and the NGOs, and between the middle and working classes. This is Haiti at it’s worst.

Why Watch Murder in Pacot?

It’s the fictional companion to Peck’s Fatal Assistance
There’s plenty of melodrama
It’s all shot in one household which becomes a microcosm for Haitian society (see La Soledad for a Venezuelan equivalent)
It’s a fierce attack on NGOs and Haitian society

The Breakdown

This film starts with dramatic music accompanying workers in white body suits carrying bodies pulled from the rubble. It’s 3 days since the 2010 Haiti earthquake struck and a middle-class couple are trying to get by after their house has been made almost inhabitable by officials. So they’re living in their former servants shed and need to let out their main house to try and make enough money to pay for repairs.

The person who starts renting their house is Alex, a young NGO worker from France. However, it is never clear what he does for the fictional ‘Beyond Aid’ NGO, as all he tells us is that ‘he helps’. Related image The only evidence of his work are of the photos he takes, featuring him with smiling kids reminiscent of your typical ‘gap-year’ pictures (see right). These pictures are his ‘trophies’. They symbolise his delusions that he is actually helping Haiti recover from the earthquake when he is really not helping at all.

Furthermore, Alex also has a Haitian girlfriend, Jennifer, who comes to live with him in the derelict house. She has escaped from the poor south of the country which has been devastated by the earthquake and is trying to use Alex as a way to get her to Europe.

Jennifer becomes a symbol of Haiti. Like many in Haiti, she lost her family and home in the earthquake and now she is temporarily enjoying the benefits of NGO support. She lets Alex (the NGO) take advantage of her in exchange for temporary shelter and food. She also lets her ‘brothers’ into the house when Alex is away to pleasure them. However, Jennifer, like Haiti is doomed to be exploited. She can never escape the society that she was born into and is doomed to be stuck in poverty.

Image result for murder in pacot

Conclusion

It’s clear that Peck (the director) doesn’t think much of the NGOs that came into Haiti following the earthquake. He makes Alex into a pathetic NGO worker who only works for the photos that he can share with his friends at home rather than actually committing to help change the country. In addition, Peck also attacks his fellow Haitians for taking advantage of Jennifer (our symbol of Haiti). She is free and beautiful, but is taken advantage of by men and the middle classes who are keen to keep her in her place in poverty.

177

October 1 (Nigeria) – Murder Before Independence Day

October 1 Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

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 Umbango than 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.

178

Ruinas Tu Reino – Deconstructing Latin American Cinema

Ruinas Tu Reino Film Difficulty Ranking: 5

We don’t believe in a cinema that yells “¡Viva la revolución!” but in one that instead formally critiques the structures that originally created the profound injustice that exists today.
Pedro Escoto, Director of Ruinas Tu Reino

If you’re not familiar with slow film or meditative cinema, the lack of story line and raw experimental shots of Ruinas Tu Reino might prove to be too much of a challenge. The long shots of the sea and fishermen sitting around makes the film feel more like a film exhibit you’d see in a modern art museum. However, if you have the patience to observe, you’ll find a film imbued with poetry; literally in words that appear on screen, and visually in the meditative shots of the fisherman’s existence. It’s a film that seeks to deconstruct Latin American cinema by transcending historical narratives, reverting to DIY production, and focusing on the power of very raw images.

To get more from this film, I strongly recommend reading Ela Bittencourt’s profile of Pablo Escoto for Lyssaria and also Pedro Escoto’s interview with Pedro Segura for Ojos Abiertos (in Spanish).

From: Mexico, North America
Watch: Trailer, Letterboxd, Vimeo (via Tweet from Director with Password)
Next: Mysterious Object at Noon, Too Early, Too Late, El Dorado XXI

179

A Night of Calypso – One Last Legendary Panamanian Concert

A Night of Calypso Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

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.

From: Panama, North America
Watch: Trailer, IMDB
Next: Batuque, Talking About Trees, The Defiant Ones

180

Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces (Egypt)

Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

“We forgot your aunt!” *Two men appear carrying her in a bathtub complaining*

“You’re not carrying the pyramid”

“No! But at least that was one stone at a time!”

You’ll experience plenty of drama in Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces. But you’ll be transfixed throughout because of the quick-witted banter, flirting, and taunting.

Why Watch Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces?

You’re up for some Egyptian DRAMA
Learn how to cook some Egyptian dishes (perfect if you’re a cooking fan)
You’re a Norwich fan and will get a kick from seeing one of the cast members in a Norwich shirt
Or if you simply love wedding controversy and gossip!

Breakdown

Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces starts at a big celebration. The wealthiest man in town has hired the best chefs and has a big time governor as his guest of honor. But it’s obvious that none of the villagers like him. He picks problems with their cooking (even though they’re the experts) and takes offence at them calling him by his nickname. One thing is already clear from this opening – there’s going to be drama!

The film flashes back maybe a year earlier and follows the chefs from the opening scene. They’re getting ready for a big wedding. During the preparations one of the top chefs sees one of his old crushes return to the neighborhood from abroad. There’s also a secret marriage and plenty of extra-marital flirting. You just know there’s going to be trouble! If you like this kind of trouble this film might just be for you!

Conclusion

Just like in After the Battle Yousry Nasrallah’s Brooks, Meadows, and Lovely Faces has plenty of juicy drama. There’s plenty of controversy, comebacks, and tension. If that’s your thing, you better find this film and watch it now!