This is interesting ...
[via Steven Barnes]
I wish I spoke French fluently. I understand this a little, mostly from context. I enjoyed this trailer anyway. Maybe they will translate it or subtitle it in English. Let’s hope!
Here’s the synopsis:
“Under a baobab tree, an old man tells a story to the children around him: the story of the everlasting friendship between Maki, a little boy aged 10, and Zarafa, an orphaned giraffe, a gift from the Pasha of Egypt to th King of France, Charles X. Hassan, Prince of the Desert, is instructed by the Pasha to deliver Zarafa to France. But Maki has made up his mind to do everything in his power to stop Hassan from fulfilling his mission and to bring the giraffe back to its native land – even if it means risking his own life – because he must fulfill his promise to Zarafa’s late mother. During an epic journey that takes them from Sudan to Paris, passing on the way through Alexandria, Marseille and the snow-capped Alps, they have many adventures, crossing paths with the aviator Malaterre, a pair of unusual twin cows called Mounh and Sounh, and the pirate queen Bouboulina.”
[via Shadow & Act and @nnedi]
I went to the Festival of the New Black Imagination last year and they showed this science fiction film followed by a discussion with the director, A. Sayeeda Clarke. Here is the synopsis—
It’s another 120-degree day with five more days to Christmas and hot is the only season left in New York City. Global warming has accelerated and the sun has become a tangible threat to survival. Bato and his wife Gina are expecting a baby, but they weren’t expecting it so early. Although they planned to have the baby at home, Gina now requires the services of a clinic for the premature delivery. With no money for the clinic, Bato enters into a race against the sun, the birth, his community, and even his own identity to save his family as he is forced to sell the new currency of this world.
[via FUTURESTATES, a series of science fiction films which features a majority made by People of Color.]
I’ve been getting into Korean Films lately. It started from seeing a the film Go at the Montreal International Film Festival years ago. I really liked it so I was willing to see The Host. Now, I’m kinda hooked! I’m loving these films. They are fresh and so distinctive. They are Korean films and make no pretense to try to attract the American audience with pandering. Also, what I love about these films is that they about people of color. I sometimes get a bit sick of the leads in films always being white males.
The Man from Nowhere, starring Bin Won, is one hot action flick! I watched it streamed on Netflix. You can watch the whole thing for free on Hulu. It’s a thriller with heart. I feel for the little girl who was born into a situation that simply no kid should have to deal with. She feels unloved and alone. A cast away. Her one friend is the pawnshop owner downstairs who she calls “Ajeossi” which I think means “Mister” because she doesn’t know his name. And when our hero--who likes the child very much--finds himself cast as one of the many who have failed this child, he feels the need to fix this.