In her documentary debut, Janaína Nagata uncovers an old 16mm reel that reveals the spectre of apartheid South Africa, featuring exotic safari animals and traditional ceremonies. Through a split-screen composition, Nagata uses modern technology to investigate the footage, identifying key figures like Hendrik Verwoerd. While the convergence of old and new technologies is compelling, the film’s narrow focus on visual clues limits its intellectual depth, resulting in an intriguing experiment in montage that lacks broader sociopolitical context.
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At 90, Wole Soyinka Revisits His Younger, More Optimistic Self
Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian writer deeply invested in art and politics, describes himself as a "fundamentalist of human freedom." Despite experiencing political imprisonment and treason charges, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. Approaching his 90th birthday, Soyinka attempted to disengage from the world but found it difficult to sustain, ultimately rediscovering his play "The Swamp Dwellers" and reflecting on the optimistic depiction of a hybrid community within it. Full Article
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