Released in 2001 and directed by Caroline Link from the autobiographical novel by Stefanie Zweig, "Nowhere in Africa" chronicles life in Kenya during World War II centering around a Jewish couple (Juliane Köhler and Merab Ninidze) and their daughter (Lea Kurka and, later, Karoline Eckertz). Matthias Habich plays a fellow Jew living in Kenya who assists them while Sidede Onyulo plays their Kenyan cook, who becomes a sort-of foster father to the girl.
This is a German film with only a handful of lines in English, which means you'll have to use the subtitles if English is your primary language. Like "Out of Africa" (1985), "Nowhere in Africa" is a historical drama brimming with cinematic confidence and thoroughly convincing. The difference is that the more popular earlier film focuses on colonial Kenya during WWI while this one takes place during WWII.
The couple has an interesting story arc and I liked the emphasis on Native Kenyan culture. Watching it, you're swept back in time to WWII-era Kenya. There are some slow parts, but that's the nature of the beast. If you want cartoony jungle action, like "Predator," "Nowhere in Africa" won't work; but if you want realistic historical drama akin to "Out of Africa," it expertly fills the bill. While not as good as either, "I Dreamed of Africa" (2001) is an interesting companion piece, taking place in post-colonial Kenya during the 70s.
The film runs 141 minutes and was shot in Kenya and Germany.
GRADE: B
This is a German film with only a handful of lines in English, which means you'll have to use the subtitles if English is your primary language. Like "Out of Africa" (1985), "Nowhere in Africa" is a historical drama brimming with cinematic confidence and thoroughly convincing. The difference is that the more popular earlier film focuses on colonial Kenya during WWI while this one takes place during WWII.
The couple has an interesting story arc and I liked the emphasis on Native Kenyan culture. Watching it, you're swept back in time to WWII-era Kenya. There are some slow parts, but that's the nature of the beast. If you want cartoony jungle action, like "Predator," "Nowhere in Africa" won't work; but if you want realistic historical drama akin to "Out of Africa," it expertly fills the bill. While not as good as either, "I Dreamed of Africa" (2001) is an interesting companion piece, taking place in post-colonial Kenya during the 70s.
The film runs 141 minutes and was shot in Kenya and Germany.
GRADE: B