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Monday, June 13, 2016

For Ethiopians, ‘Mother India’ is the mother of all films - The Hindu

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THE HINDU

Looks like the movie's magic has cast a spell in this country in the Horn of Africa. Such is the popularity of the Nargis-Sunil Dutt starrer 'Mother India' (1957) that it continues to enthral Ethiopians even after 59 years of its release.

Even actors Salman and Shah Rukh Khan have a huge fan following in that country.

For Ethiopians, Bollywood is synonymous with “Mother India” (1957) and such is the popularity of the Nargis-Sunil Dutt starrer movie that it continues to enthral them even after 59 years of its release.

While recent Bollywood blockbusters like “Veer Zara,” “Kuch Kuch Hota hai”, “Karan Arjun” have earned their actors Salman and Shah Rukh Khan a huge fan following, thanks to their dubbing in local language Amharic, Ethiopians embraced the Mehboob Khan helmed classic without even understanding a word of Hindi.

They understand Hindi films

Earlier, Indian movies were available with subtitles or sometimes even without that. But still the people understood them without any knowledge about Hindi.

“I watched the movie [Mother India] some 40 years ago. Now a lot of people know and watch Indian movies. Even if they do not understand it, they watch it. In terms of Indian movies, almost everybody now is able to have a cable TV in their house even in the remote areas,” Soloman Tadesse, CEO of Ethiopian Tourism Organisation, said here.

Almost everyone who was asked about Bollywood in the country— everyone has a unique story to share about ‘Mother India.’

He cried after watching it

“I love ‘Mother India’ and cried for half an hour after watching it,” said Dorse, owner of a souvenir shop.

Other movies like “Karan Arjun”, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” “Veer Zara” are favourites with Shah Rukh and Salman being the most loved actors in the country.

“I have watched ‘Karan Arjun’ and I love Shah Rukh and Salman,” Deteste, an employee at the Kuriftu Resort in Bahir Dar said.

They enjoy it in Amharic

With the advent of cable television, movies are now being translated in the local language Amharic and made available to Ethiopians.

“Cable TV brings Indian movies. Recently an Ethiopian company started dubbing the movies in Amharic. There is a lot of similarity in the mindset, culture and temperament between the people of both the countries,” Mr. Tadesse said.

Ethiopia’s untapped beauty

With the beautiful landscapes in Africa, many Bollywood movies have been shot in countries like Egypt and South Africa but Ethiopia has been untapped by the Bollywood producers despite the scenic beauty of the place.

The tourism department is now working to draw Indian producers to the country.

“We are in talks with Indian producers and trying to get them to picturise the movies in our country,” said an official of the Ethiopian Tourism Organisation.

Keywords: Mother India, Ethiopia

Monday, April 4, 2016

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Ethiopian cinema focuses on prostitution - BBC

By Emmanuel IgunzaBBC Africa, Addis Ababa

A screen grab from the film Price of Love by Hermon Hailay

Price of Love, in Amharic, has been nominated for Africa's top film award at the Fespaco festival

Ethiopian scriptwriter and film director Hermon Hailay says she grew up close to prostitutes.

"I know them as young, beautiful women, mothers, sisters and friends," she tells me at a popular cinema in the middle of Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

"I always wanted to tell their story, because I know it well. As a kid, I did not see the shame in what they do."

At just 28, Ms Hermon has already written and directed three feature films, all tackling social issues like poverty and the perils of rural to urban migration.

She was getting ready to travel to Burkina Faso for Africa's biggest film festival Fespaco, where her latest film, Price of Love, has been nominated for the top prize.

It follows the life of a young taxi driver who in the course of his job falls in love with a prostitute.

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Hermon Hailay speaks about her latest film Price of Love

He is then forced to confront his past, having been raised by his mother, who also earned her living from prostitution.

This is not uncommon in Ethiopia where prostitution is widespread, but is at times spoken of in low tones.

Despite the country's impressive and fast-growing economy, a large part of the population still lives on less than a dollar a day.

Every evening, heavily made up "business ladies", as they are called, line up on Addis Ababa's streets in short skimpy dresses.

An Ethiopian film poster in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Cinemas showing the latest releases are popular in Addis Ababa

"In the three movies I have done before, I had small roles of prostitutes and I always wanted to have a major role in one of them," says Ms Hermon.

"It's of course a very controversial topic and people ask me why I include such roles in my movies but I think we have never told enough, and if we think prostitution is bad, we should change that by loving them, not shunning them - that is the message of my movie."

'Change a life'

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It doesn't matter if they win at Fespaco or not. This is already a big win not only for them but also Ethiopia's film industry”

Max ConilFilm consultant

Ethiopia is full of film lovers and most evenings you will see long queues at local cinema halls showing the latest Amharic language and Western releases.

"I have seen the trailer and it's a movie I just can't wait to watch because it's not only based on reality but more importantly has a message in it," says Arega Bekele, who runs a restaurant often frequented by people leaving a nearby cinema.

Twenty-eight-year-old Meseret, who was in a cinema queue and had seen the trailer, agrees.

"Out there, one of those beautiful young ladies will watch that movie and it will change her life forever," she says.

Across town at a restaurant frequented by middle-class Addis Ababans, I met three young people having their lunch who had seen Price of Love.

They were more critical about the film, feeling it did not offer anything new.

"This is just a regular story that has been told over and over again in Ethiopia," says one of them, an office manager.

"It's of course a difficult issue to tackle here and many young girls are just getting into it because of the money they get," she says.

Hermon Hailay at a cinema cafe in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hermon Hailay has written and directed three feature films taking on social issues

But while there may be critics, many agree that Ms Hermon deserves praise for bringing the Ethiopian film industry into the limelight.

Price of Love was filmed by a crew of just eight people - all Ethiopians.

Max Conil, a producer born and raised in the UK, was a consultant on the film and says their work ethic and dedication was exceptional.

"It doesn't matter if they win at Fespaco or not. This is already a big win not only for them but also Ethiopia's film industry," he says.

Ms Hermon believes Ethiopian films can compete with the best in the continent and on the international scene.

"Just look at our neighbours Kenya, beyond to Nigeria and South Africa, we have the culture, the stories and the people, we can be like them," she says.

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Saturday, January 18, 2014

Angelina Jolie: Telefa: the practice of abduction for marriage in Ethiopia -Difret is inspiring - Film-News.co.uk

Angelina Jolie: Difret is inspiring

added: 17 Jan 2014 // by: Film-News.co.uk Newsdesk

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Angelina Jolie has taken an executive producer role on an Ethiopian movie.

The star has been working behind the camera more and more of late. She directed 2011's In the Land of Blood and Honey, which was set during the Bosnian war, and is currently helming Unbroken, about an Olympic runner taken prisoner during World War II.

It's now been confirmed she is to executive produce Difret and will also have a presentation credit.

"This film is a strong moment for art in Ethiopia," she said in a statement, according to Deadline.

"It is inspiring to see such an important story so beautifully illustrated with such creative talent."

Difret follows a girl and female lawyer who are determined to bring attention to the Ethiopian tradition of telefa - marriage by abduction.

"It draws out the richness of Ethiopian culture and shows how important legal advances can be made while respecting local culture," Angelina continues. "It is a story that gives hope for Ethiopia’s future, and for other countries where countless girls grow up without the protection of laws that shield them and their bodies, and shows how the courage of brave individuals can awaken the conscience of a society."

The film will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, where it is one of the releases in the running for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.

Difret is directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari.

The 2014 Sundance Film Festival starts on January 16 and finishes up on the 26th. It is held in Park City, Utah.

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