Lovers of African and African-American cinema, take note. The 4th Annual African Film Festival, presented by Columbia College, begins Friday and continues through Sunday at assorted venues on and around the Columbia College campus.
This year’s festival, which is operating under the title “African Visions IV: Independent Visions,” features a special program of 10 debut feature films by African-American independent filmmakers, including seven Chicago premieres.
But, as usual, there is plenty more happening at the festival this weekend, including a workshop on the making and distribution of independent films (2 p.m. Friday); panel discussions titled “What Women See: Their Visions of Our World” (4 p.m. Friday) and “Making the Deal: Developing Film Projects” (6:15 p.m. Sunday); a symposium featuring all the visiting filmmakers (1 p.m. Saturday); short film programs by African-American women (1:30 p.m. Friday) and African-American independent filmmakers (11 a.m. Saturday); a Children’s Workshop (noon Sunday); and a Children/Family Film Program all day Sunday. All this in addition to 50 films, including two dozen features, which will be screening from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. Some are old, many are new, and a few are not to be missed.
The 4th Annual African Film Festival runs Friday through Sunday at Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan Ave. (Additional screens are at 624 S. Michigan Ave. and 623 S. Wabash Ave.) Ticket prices are $3, with a six-ticket festival pass available for $15. All panels and workshops are free, on a first-come, first-served basis. The festival box office is at 623 S. Wabash Ave., 1st Floor; 312-344-7170; Web site: www.colum.edu/festivals/african or @ www.sahel.com
Below are short reviews of festival films that I have already seen elsewhere or were available for preview:
– “Tableau Feraille” (star) (star) (star) 1/2 (Director Moussa Absa; Senegal) Senegal has a history of producing politically astute films, and this tale of the rise and fall of a naive deputy minister is a beauty. In subtle flashbacks we see how the jovial Daam comes to power, falling in love with the shy and beautiful Gagneseri along the way. But when she is unable to give him a child, he makes the ultramodern Kine his second wife. She delivers him an heir, along with a truckload of problems that eventually drive the wounded Daam out of town in disgrace. This is a full-bodied study of ambition and corruption that doesn’t seek to simplify matters. Kine may be conniving, the film says, but what other choice does an intelligent woman have in such a male-dominated culture? (2:45 p.m. Saturday)
– “Tears of a Clown” (star) (star) 1/2 (Mandell Holland; U.S.) This good-looking debut feature, which stars Mekhi Phifer (“Clockers”), starts out with promise but quickly deteriorates into yet another “be yourself” manual for young black men. Phifer plays Martin, a hard-working and sensitive arts writer, who can’t get to first base with the opposite sex, in stark contrast to his smooth-talking little brother, Junnie (Andre Blake), who has more female companionship than he knows what to do with. Junnie offers to help Martin out, but soon things get complicated as both brothers find themselves holding the short end of the stick. The acting is good, and a few of the pickup scenes have some snap, but the script begins to unravel around the 30-minute mark. (Director Holland will be present at the screening to discuss the film.) (6:10 p.m. Saturday)
– “Love and Fate” (star) (star) (Kenneth Jones; U.S.) This low-budget, claustrophobic little film concerns Isaiah, an angry young man who checks his emotionally scarred father into a mental home. During his visits, he meets and falls in love with the lovely Claudia, whom Isaiah thinks is an employee there, although she actually is a patient battling suicidal tendencies after the breakup of her marriage. Unfortunately, there’s not much more to this paper-thin story, which is really a 30-minute concept stretched out over an hour and a half. For filler, we get many scenes of Isaiah complaining about having to bring Claudia home early. The acting by the two leads is over the top, but the father and a couple of the supporting players are quite good. (Director Jones will be present at the screening to discuss the film.) (7 p.m. Saturday)
– “Aristotle’s Plot” (star) (star) (star) (Jean Pierre Bekolo; Cameroon) Allegory can be a heavy-handed way to send a cinematic message, but director Bekolo finds just the right mix of humor and drama to make this cautionary tale of artistic encroachment come to life. The story takes place in a poor African village, where the main activity is watching violent Hollywood films at the run-down “Cinema Africa” movie theater. Into this cultural gore-fest strolls artsy film director Essomba Tourneur (nicknamed E.T.), who has returned from France to bring real African cinema back to his homeland. Unfortunately, no one wants to see it. At the heart of this nicely acted film is the issue of American pop culture sucking the life out of countries worldwide, a dilemma that seems to be getting worse with each passing year. (8 p.m. Saturday)
– “Night John” (star) (star) (star) 1/2 (Charles Burnett; U.S.) A beautiful-looking film by celebrated director Burnett about the power of learning. The story takes place on a plantation in the pre-Civil War South, where a rebellious slave named John teaches a young slave girl named Sarny to read, defying the law that says any slave caught trying to read or write can be put to death. The performances are uniformly excellent, especially Carl Lumbly as the driven teacher. A perfect film for parents to see with their children. (2:45 p.m. Sunday)
