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In the Shadow of the Sun (2012)
An important look at a largely ignored minority by the media
Albinos in Tanzania have a rough life. Hunted by witchdoctors and people who believe in them, they are forced to live separated from most of society in order to survive. They are killed because their body parts are believed to bring wealth to those who get hold of them. Albinos are also forced to literally stay in the shadow (hence the movie title) because they do not have the protective layer (melanin) on their skin that prevents them from getting cancer. Lack of melanin also reduces their eyesight.
The documentary focuses on two albinos, an adult who travels around Tanzania basically telling people not to kill them, and a young guy who struggles to find a school that will accept him. The director does not intervene with narration and let these people tell their stories themselves and these are rough. Following these albinos around is compelling and the strongest part of the documentary, we get emotionally attached to the people. I wish that the witchdoctors "arguments" and the historical background was explored a bit deeper however. As it is the slice of the problem it focuses on is perhaps a little too small to lift this documentary to a memorable one years from now. A less conservative style would have also helped as I felt that the soundtrack choice was a little grating. To conclude it's undoubtedly an important story to tell but overall I wish it was more ambitious with a bigger lens.
Les mille et une mains (1973)
A colorful and important but heavy-handed Morrocan drama
In this FESPACO award winner we get to see the hand-weaving and dyeing industry and the hard labor that goes with it, including the use of child labor. The family eats from the same bowl and listens to the radio which has an interview with someone who got away from Morocco. Then we are shown the great contrast this kind of life is to the ones of rich people in Casablanca. Weaved items are everywhere in the big palace of a house which becomes important towards the end of the movie.
The movie loves quick zooms in and out, which is mostly a bit distracting but sometimes work to great effect, for example one scene where it zooms out from a road to reveal a great hill and a road further up in the landscape. Unfortunately all the playing on the contrast of rich and poor gets a bit much and heavy-handed for my liking and while the storyline doesn't go too crazy i.e something like Iñárritu's films, it does feel one-sided and forced.