Le Silence de la forêt [videorecording] = The Forest Bassek Ba Kobhio Didier Ouenangare

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Material type: Film

FilmLanguage: French, Sango (Ubangi Creole) Summary language: English Original language: French Subtitle language: English Publication details: 2003 France Cameroon Gabon Central African Republic Arte France Cinéma Centre National du Cinéma Les Films Terre AfricaineDescription: 1 videodisc (ca. 93 min.) sound, color. 4 3/4 inOther title:

The Forest

Uniform titles:

The Forest

LOC classification:

PN1997 .S554 2003

Summary: From case cover: In a fascinating twist on the old story of Westerners' encounters with "exotic" African cultures, Le Silence de la forêt focuses instead on what happens when a European-educated African interacts with the mythic rainforest people incorrectly and pejoratively known as "pygmies"(They would more accurately be called the Biaka). It is about the difficulty for even the most well-intentioned person to know and respect the "other". The film's protagonist Gonaba, unlike many Africans educated in Europe, decides to return to his homeland. He is full of ideas for fulfilling the promises of independence. The film fast forwards ten years to a disillusioned Gonaba, now an ineffectual education functionary hamstrung by corrupt government superiors who mimic the ways of the former colonialists and mistreat the Biaka. Seduced by his own romantic notions about them, Gonaba goes to live with the Biaka hoping that, unlike those in "modern" society, they still have their integrity intact. At the same time, Gonaba tries to inculcate them with the best of what he has imbibed from his Western education. But the Biaka are quite satisfied with their hunter-gatherer way of life and the clash in cultures leads to an inevitable conflict. This Pan-African production features haunting musical sounds of the Biaka as well as the contemporary score of Manu Dibango. The gorgeous cinematography takes full advantage of the lush Central African rainforest.

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode
DVD - Video	SILC Learning Support Services DH132-DVD-D: DVD Cabinet D	PN1997 .S554 2003	Available		000842

From case cover:
In a fascinating twist on the old story of Westerners' encounters with "exotic" African cultures, Le Silence de la forêt focuses instead on what happens when a European-educated African interacts with the mythic rainforest people incorrectly and pejoratively known as "pygmies"(They would more accurately be called the Biaka). It is about the difficulty for even the most well-intentioned person to know and respect the "other".

The film's protagonist Gonaba, unlike many Africans educated in Europe, decides to return to his homeland. He is full of ideas for fulfilling the promises of independence. The film fast forwards ten years to a disillusioned Gonaba, now an ineffectual education functionary hamstrung by corrupt government superiors who mimic the ways of the former colonialists and mistreat the Biaka. Seduced by his own romantic notions about them, Gonaba goes to live with the Biaka hoping that, unlike those in "modern" society, they still have their integrity intact. At the same time, Gonaba tries to inculcate them with the best of what he has imbibed from his Western education. But the Biaka are quite satisfied with their hunter-gatherer way of life and the clash in cultures leads to an inevitable conflict.

This Pan-African production features haunting musical sounds of the Biaka as well as the contemporary score of Manu Dibango. The gorgeous cinematography takes full advantage of the lush Central African rainforest.

DVD video; Dolby Digital 2.0; stereo; NTSC; Regions 0; 4:3 fullscreen.

Daika, French or Sango audio with English subtitles.

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