Filmstill «Mali Twist» (Robert Guédiguian, FRA/CAN/SEN 2022)

View With a Difference: Subverting the Western Gaze

- CET
Screenings
Uganda, Frankreich, Kanada, Senegal
Kino Rex

Block Trailer


Surprise Film

20:00 · 8pm
Kurzfilm/short film
20’

Sprache/language: Ganda
Untertitel/subtitles: English


African Stories, Western Visions: Critiquing Cinematic Crossroads

20:00 · 8pm
Q&A/talk
Sprache/language: English

w/ Noah Grothe (online) & Thomas Burkhalter
moderated by Emma Nzioka

In diesem Gespräch erkunden wir unterschiedliche narrative Strategien, mit welchen westliche Filmemacher*innen zur Darstellung afrikanischer Gemeinschaften beitragen. Einige manifestieren Stereotype und rücken die Protagonist*innen in ein negatives Licht, während andere vorgefasste Meinungen widerlegen. Wer macht es also richtig und warum?

In this talk, we explore nuanced narrative landscapes where Western film makers have contributed to shaping the portrayal of African peoples. Some of these depictions may perpetuate stereotypes, casting communities in a negative light while others defy preconceived notions. So who gets it right, and why?


Mali Twist

21:30 · 9.30pm
Spielfilm/feature
Robert Guédiguian, France/Canada/Senegal 2022 · 130’
Originaltitel: Twist à Bamako

Sprachen/languages: French, Bambara
Untertitel/subtitles: English

Die 1960er Jahre waren eine Zeit des Wandels in Bamako, der Hauptstadt von Mali, einem Land, das erst kürzlich von der französischen Kolonialherrschaft unabhängig wurde. Der Spielfilm Mali Twist ist eine Romanze in Zeiten des politischen Wandels, durchdrungen von der musikalischen Energie dieses Jahrzehnts. Samba, ein junger, idealistischer Sozialist, arbeitet tagsüber an der Schaffung einer gerechteren Nation und tanzt nachts mit seiner Freundin Lara zu den Beach Boys, Otis Redding und den Supremes.

The 1960s were a time of change in Bamako, the capital city of Mali, a nation that had only recently gained independence from French colonial rule. The feature film Mali Twist is a romance fraught with the drama of political change, infused with the musical energy of that decade. Samba, a young, idealistic socialist, works toward creating a more just nation by day and dances with girlfriend Lara to the Beach Boys, Otis Redding, and the Supremes by night.

IMDb


Beteiligte Personen / Involved People

Biography

Dr. Thomas Burkhalter is an anthropologist/ethnomusicologist, AV-artist, and writer from Bern (Switzerland). He is the founder and director of Norient and the Norient Festival (NF), co-directed AV-performances and documentary films (e.g. «Contradict», Berner Filmpreis 2020 + Al-Jazeera Witness), and is the author and co-editor of several books (e.g., «Local Music Scenes and Globalization: Transnational Platforms in Beirut», Routledge, «The Arab Avant Garde: Musical Innovation in the Middle East», Wesleyan University Press). He teaches regularly at universities, and runs workshops for arts institutions. Since 2022 he produces the Norient Mixtape for Swiss National Radio SRF3. Currently, he is working on his new music duo «Melodies In My Head», and on the podcast series «Long Take: Life as an Artist». Follow him on Instagram, Research Gate, Academia.edu, Bandcamp, Spotify, or Meta.

Biography

Noah Grothe is an audiovisual artist who has lived in diverse situations globally and has encountered a wide range of human experiences. His artistic process is rooted in the belief that the most powerful stories emerge from the collective wisdom and collaborative efforts of diverse talents. He seeks to form an open-minded and vibrant cinematic language with a distinct dissonance that inspires (yet challenges) understanding and seeks to disrupt the conventional. This leads to the creation of multidimensional works which continue to be showcased in the international artistic underground and make him an exciting and influential presence in the world of modern cinema. Follow him on Instagram, and YouTube.

Biography

Emma Mbeke Nzioka is a multifaceted artist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Winner of the Cinematographer of the Year 2021 WIFA (Women in Film Award) and primary Director of Photography (DOP) in the award-winning feature documentary «No Simple Way Home» (2022), Emma is also an activist and educator. She is the founder of «Pass Pass», an initiative dedicated to empowering African artists, promoting free movement, global collaboration, and sustainable livelihoods, with a focus on restoring dignity to cultural practitioners. Emma works for Sim Sima and is a DJ and producer under the name Coco Em. Nzioka is the artistic director of the 13th Norient Festival edition in 2024. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, X, Spotify, or SoundCloud, Localeur, and 500px.

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