Tinpis Run

Tinpis Run Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Why Watch Tinpis Run?

  • If you’re looking for a light-hearted road-trip comedy
  • If you’re a fan of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza and want to see PNG’s equivalent
  • To see cycles of exploitation stemming from colonialism
From: Papua New Guinea, Australasia
Watch: Watch on YouTube, IMDb
Next: Cuestion de Fe, Akasha, Tanna

One Crazy Road Trip

In the opening of Tinpis Run, Papa meets Naaki. Papa is driving one of his regular taxi routes across the highlands when he almost falls asleep at the wheel and crashes his car. Naaki pulls him out of the car and rushes him to hospital, saving him from certain death. In thanks, Papa promises Naaki his daughter’s hand in marriage (she refuses). However, despite his daughter’s refusal, Naaki convinces Papa to buy a new vehicle and get back in the taxi business to cement their new bond of friendship. Together, they drive around the country going along with whatever life throws at them, whether that’s gambling losses that force them to bond with local politician/criminals, highway robberies, and tribal warfare. Whatever misfortunes hit them, they’re treated with deadpan comedy instead of concern, much like the slapstick adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

PNG’s Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

Papa and Naaki’s unlikely friendship was the first thing that reminded me of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Papa is an old highland chief making a living through his taxi business whilst Naaki is a regular guy from the city. Whilst Papa still identifies with traditional PNG life, such as tribal rivalries and giving away his daughter’s hand in marriage, Naaki rejects them. He prefers the simple manly pleasures of life such as womanizing and life by the beach. Papa’s fervor for traditionalism matches Don Quixote’s dreams of being a chivalrous knight. Naaki, like Sancho Panza, is happy to go along with Papa just to get closer to his daughter and to make a living.

Colonialism’s lasting cycles of exploitation

Under the comedy, there’s a critique of the lasting effects of colonialism. In the early scenes of the movie, when Papa is looking for a new truck to restart his taxi business with Naaki, he finds a beat-up truck being sold by a white man. Papa, old enough to remember the neocolonialist rule of the country under Australia, calls the white man ‘master’ and doesn’t question his extortionate price. His unquestioned trust of the white man shows the lasting effect of colonialism’s promotion of white superiority.

But it’s not just the white man that tries to exploit the indigenous PNG citizens. We see a PNG citizen from the mainland trying to exploit PNG citizens on the islands (as well as Papa and Naaki). He tricks Papa and Naaki into taking their car on one of his boats to a nearby island to promote his campaign in the local elections. He uses their car as a symbol of the ‘civilization’ and technology he will bring to the island if the islanders vote for him. Just as the white man used his white status to rip off Papa, this PNG citizen uses his status as a city dweller to trick the islanders. It marks that the cycles of exploitation founded in colonialism didn’t end with independence.

What to Watch Next

If you’d like to watch another light road trip adventure, head to Bolivia to watch Cuestion de Fe. There’s also Ghana’s Bigman Wahala if you want a big more laugh out loud humor.

Or if you’re looking for another film featuring characters letting life lead them where it wills, check out Sudanese film aKasha or Portugal/Cape Verde’s Djon Africa.

Lastly, for more films featuring tropical island life, go watch Jamaica’s Outdeh, and Hawaii’s August at Akiko’s. Whilst it’s not an island, Suriname’s Wan Pipel also has that same laid back tropical island feel too, and is a great film from a country without much of a film industry.

Image result for zero point estonia

Zero Point Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

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.

From: Estonia, Europe
Watch: Trailer, Amazon Prime, YouTube Rent
Next: Thelma, Bad Genius, Kids Return
Continue reading “Zero Point – Your Prototypical High School Movie from Estonia”
Men in the Arena

Men in the Arena Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

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.

From: Somalia, Africa
Watch: Trailer, Tubi, Kanopy, Amazon Prime, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Freedom Fields, Uncertain Future, The Eagle Huntress
Read The Full Review
Mortu Nega

Mortu Nega Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Why Watch Mortu Nega?

  • If you want to see an African protest movie from Guinea Bissau
  • For guerilla warfare along the lines of Che and Flame
  • To see that war doesn’t end when the fighting stops
From: Guinea Bissau, Africa
Watch: Trailer, Kanopy, Buy
Next: Flame, Sambizanga, Lucia
Continue reading “Mortu Nega – Guinea Bissau’s Fight for Independence”
Rattle the Cage

Rattle the Cage Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Why Watch Rattle the Cage?

  • It’s an unexpectedly violent genre film from the United Arab Emirates
  • To be entertained by a charismatic lead villain
  • If you like your films confined to one room
From: United Arab Emirates, Asia
Watch: Trailer, Netflix, JustWatch
Next: The Platform, Silence of the Lambs, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence
Continue reading “Rattle the Cage – An Eccentric Villain Confronts a Prisoner in his Way”