This blog has readers. The web master knows how many. Or how few. Most of them read it quietly. Some leave a note on Facebook. A few write an e-mail with a comment, a question or even an encouragement. Thai film student/filmmaker Visra Vichit-Vadakan wrote me a nicely composed e-mail from New York where she is finishing her studies. I asked her to edit it so it could be posted as a guest blog. If you think she is too nice to me, feel free to write me as well.
(g.zuilhof@filmfestivalrotterdam.com)
“An action-packed tale of a playful sage as he guides young minds across a modern African landscape.”
-A log line to a film about Gertjan’s adventures in filmmaking across these African countries. The seemingly random travels and films and filmmakers all coalesce into a common experience shared by all and orchestrated by a festival programmer/blogger. I am intrigued.
I have not been to Africa. I do not know much at all about the continent apart from the small news clips that pass by my radar…“A Devastating Drought Sweeps Across Kenya”, “Somali Rebels Call For Foreign Reinforcements”, “South Africa’s Poor Renew a Tradition of Protest”. “Underneath Palatial Skin, Corruption Rules Gabon”… these are just a few of the headlines of Africa today.
Kenya suffers from a terrible draught. The elephants die in the game parks by the hundreds. Cows have nothing to eat. The grass is burned under the sun. Desperate shepherds drive their cattle into the city to let them eat the green between the highways. With the proud Massai in the picture I had a dispute on the freedom of cattle driving and the freedom of making pictures. Edwin filmed it and thought it was funny enough to post it on Youtube (I don't think he did already).
(GjZ)
I Forget Africa. I forget that Africa isn’t just a headline in the news. I forget that Africa is a continent comprised of countries, of cities, of villages, and most importantly- of people…not just “people”- women selling bread at a local stand, born again Christians, mototaxi drivers, night clubbers, journalism students, soccer fans, political activists, and of course- filmmakers.
I am reminded of the threads which connect us across continents. One in particular is film. Watching a film is an exercise in compassion. You often understand and relate to characters onscreen as if you yourself are in the scenes. Filmmakers are teachers of such compassion. They teach us to feel, to relate, to connect. I am touched when I see filmmakers around the world connecting and sharing and filming.
Filmmakers are storytellers. Exploring a country through its storytellers is something special. Connecting storytellers from different countries, AND making films from this convergence is ingenious. Each blog post shows just a few moments from the week, leaving much room for the imagination and room for us to engage ourselves into their story. We are along for the ride in their adventures, which are absolutely reckless in the most hilarious and profound way.
Best and Safe Travels to you, Gertjan.
- Visra
Visra's experimental erotic short film Fall was shown during the IFFR past January.
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