Mortu Nega
Encyclopedia
Mortu Nega is a 1988 historic film by Flora Gomes
, a director from Guinea-Bissau
. Mortu Nega was Gomes' first feature-length film. This is the first docufiction
, more precisely the first ethnofiction
, from his country that shows, in an expressive and touching way, the experiences of the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence
. This film blends contemporary history with mythology, in this case African mythology. Mortu Nega was the first film produced in independent Guinea-Bissau
. Its world premiere was at the Venice Film Festival
on August 29, 1988.
, carrying supplies to a war front near Conakry
, where Diminga’s husband Sako is fighting. The country is ruined and there is death everywhere, but hope is what keeps life worth living. In the encampment where she meets Sako, Diminga does not have much time to enjoy his company. The rebels are gaining ground and they are certain that they will command victory.
1974-77: The end of the war, but not truly an end. There is a great drought across the country and life continues to be difficult. It is true that where Diminga lives, in between the crying, there are great celebrations for the end of the war. But the drought continues, Diminga has a sick husband and other fighting (mostly over rations) starts.
The film, in the words of its director, is an African parable
. The colonies won their independence and eliminated Portuguese colonialism. A question that arises is about Africa’s future. As Flora Gomes suggests, Africa cannot be itself without its beliefs, its myths, its philosophy, and its culture.
, it is also the year in which the country was practically annihilated by a brutal civil war” (Teresa Ribeiro, a journalist for Voice of America
). The film is an “elegy, not for the victims of the war of liberation, but for its survivors."
Mortu Nega gave to the world through major international festivals a breath of fresh air. It became a cult film that has come to be seen as “a film that has no ideologies or morals. It is a love story: nervous, carnal, sensitive” (René Marx, Pariscope, March 14, 1990).
Flora Gomes
Flora Gomes is a Bissau-Guinean film director. He was born in Cadique, Guinea-Bissau on 31 December, 1949 and after high school in Cuba, he decided to study film at the Cuban Film Institute in Havana....
, a director from Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
. Mortu Nega was Gomes' first feature-length film. This is the first docufiction
Docufiction
Docufiction is a neologism which refers to the cinematographic combination of documentary and fiction. More precisely, it is a documentary contaminated with fictional elements, in real time, filmed when the events take place, and in which someone - the character - plays his own role in real life...
, more precisely the first ethnofiction
Ethnofiction
Ethnofiction is a neologism which refers to an ethnographic docufiction sub-genre, a blend of documentary and fiction film in the area of visual anthropology. It is a film style in which the portrayed characters play their own roles as members of an ethnic or social group.Jean Rouch is considered...
, from his country that shows, in an expressive and touching way, the experiences of the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence
Guinea-Bissau War of Independence
Guinea-Bissau War of Independence was an armed conflict and national liberation struggle in Portuguese Guinea between 1963 and 1974.-Background:...
. This film blends contemporary history with mythology, in this case African mythology. Mortu Nega was the first film produced in independent Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
. Its world premiere was at the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
on August 29, 1988.
Synopsis
1973: Diminga accompanies a group of camouflaged soldiers who travel down a path, in the middle of the shrublandShrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
, carrying supplies to a war front near Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
, where Diminga’s husband Sako is fighting. The country is ruined and there is death everywhere, but hope is what keeps life worth living. In the encampment where she meets Sako, Diminga does not have much time to enjoy his company. The rebels are gaining ground and they are certain that they will command victory.
1974-77: The end of the war, but not truly an end. There is a great drought across the country and life continues to be difficult. It is true that where Diminga lives, in between the crying, there are great celebrations for the end of the war. But the drought continues, Diminga has a sick husband and other fighting (mostly over rations) starts.
The film, in the words of its director, is an African parable
Parable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
. The colonies won their independence and eliminated Portuguese colonialism. A question that arises is about Africa’s future. As Flora Gomes suggests, Africa cannot be itself without its beliefs, its myths, its philosophy, and its culture.
Interpretation
The year the film premiered, 1988 "not only marks the 25th anniversary of the independence of Guinea-Bissau and the assassination of its leader Amílcar CabralAmílcar Cabral
Amílcar Lopes da Costa Cabral was a Guinea-Bissauan and Cape Verdean agricultural engineer, writer, and a nationalist thinker and politician. Also known by his nom de guerre Abel Djassi, Cabral led the nationalist movement of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands and the ensuing war of independence...
, it is also the year in which the country was practically annihilated by a brutal civil war” (Teresa Ribeiro, a journalist for Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
). The film is an “elegy, not for the victims of the war of liberation, but for its survivors."
Mortu Nega gave to the world through major international festivals a breath of fresh air. It became a cult film that has come to be seen as “a film that has no ideologies or morals. It is a love story: nervous, carnal, sensitive” (René Marx, Pariscope, March 14, 1990).
Cast
- Diminga - Bia Gomes
- Sako - Tunu Eugenio Almada
- Sanabaio - Mamadu Uri Balde
- Lebeth - M'Make Nhasse
- Estin - Sinho Pedro DaSilva
- Mandembo - Homma Nalete
- Onkono - Caio Leucadio Almeida
- Irene Lopes - Brinsam
- Nurse - Abi Cassama
- Doctor - Ernesto Moreira
- Head of Sector - Flora GomesFlora GomesFlora Gomes is a Bissau-Guinean film director. He was born in Cadique, Guinea-Bissau on 31 December, 1949 and after high school in Cuba, he decided to study film at the Cuban Film Institute in Havana....
Technical information
- Script - Flora GomesFlora GomesFlora Gomes is a Bissau-Guinean film director. He was born in Cadique, Guinea-Bissau on 31 December, 1949 and after high school in Cuba, he decided to study film at the Cuban Film Institute in Havana....
, Manuel Rambault Barcellos, and David Lang - Direction - Flora GomesFlora GomesFlora Gomes is a Bissau-Guinean film director. He was born in Cadique, Guinea-Bissau on 31 December, 1949 and after high school in Cuba, he decided to study film at the Cuban Film Institute in Havana....
- Production - National Film Institute of Guinea-Bissau
- Producers - Cecília Fonseca, Odette Rosa, Nina Neves Aimée and Jacques Zajdermann
- Photography - Dominique Gentil
- Editing - Christiane Lack
- Format - 35 mm film35 mm film35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
- Genre - historical docufictionDocufictionDocufiction is a neologism which refers to the cinematographic combination of documentary and fiction. More precisely, it is a documentary contaminated with fictional elements, in real time, filmed when the events take place, and in which someone - the character - plays his own role in real life...
, ethnofictionEthnofictionEthnofiction is a neologism which refers to an ethnographic docufiction sub-genre, a blend of documentary and fiction film in the area of visual anthropology. It is a film style in which the portrayed characters play their own roles as members of an ethnic or social group.Jean Rouch is considered... - Duration - 92 minutes
- Distribution - California NewsreelCalifornia NewsreelCalifornia Newsreel, founded in 1968, is an American non-profit, social justice film distribution and production company based in San Francisco, California. Their educational media resources include both documentary and feature films, with a focus on the advancement of racial justice and diversity...
Festivals and Shows
- 1988 - Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, August 29 (2 Honorable Mentions) - 1989 - Panafrican Film and Television Festival of OuagadougouPanafrican Film and Television Festival of OuagadougouThe Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou is the largest African film festival, held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The festival is the biggest regular cultural event on the African continent and it mostly focuses on the African film and African filmmakers...
(FESPACO), March - 1989 - Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, May 16 - 1989 - Belgian Cinedecouvertes, July
- 1989 - London Film FestivalLondon Film FestivalThe BFI London Film Festival is the UK's largest public film event, screening more than 300 features, documentaries and shorts from almost 50 countries. The festival, , currently in its 54th year, is run every year in the second half of October under the umbrella of the British Film Institute...
- November 16–20 - 1990 - Seattle International Film FestivalSeattle International Film FestivalThe Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees...
- May 28 - 1990 - Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage (French), TunisTunisTunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, October - November (bronze Tanit award) - 1997 - 9th Annual Cascade Festival of African Films, February 20
- 2000 - New York Film Center, June 20
- 2000 - African Film Festival, November 26
- 2003 - Flora GomesFlora GomesFlora Gomes is a Bissau-Guinean film director. He was born in Cadique, Guinea-Bissau on 31 December, 1949 and after high school in Cuba, he decided to study film at the Cuban Film Institute in Havana....
Retrospective and African Film Festival at Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
See also
- Cinema of PortugalCinema of PortugalPortuguese cinema has a long tradition, reaching back to the birth of the medium in the late 19th century. In the 1950s, Cinema Novo, sprang up as a movement concerned with showing realism in film, in the vein of Italian Neorealism and the French New Wave...
- African CinemaAfrican cinemaThe term African cinema refers to the film production in Africa, following formal independence. Some of the countries in North Africa developed a national film industry much earlier and are related to West Asian cinema...
- Mortu Nega (Portuguese)
- Mortu Nega (French)
External links
- Mortu Nega (1988) - IMDb page about Mortu Nega
- Mortu Nega - California Newsreel
- Mortu Nega - Film.com page about Mortu Nega
- Mortu Nega (1988) - refusing to give up - Overview/review of the film
- Mortu Nega/Death Denied - Portland Community College course page about Mortu Nega.
- Mortu Nega - Brown University, Department of African Studies
- L'Afrique Subsaharienne et la Mondialisation - article by Catherine Maya (French)