Abouna (2002) was shown in the U.S. with the title "Our Father (2002)." It was written and directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, who is from Chad.
Abouna is, in a way, a quest movie. Two young boys awake to find their father missing. They set out to find him, and the plot unfolds from there. The film has true drama. It's very moving, but also informative. (How many of us know anything about Chadian society, culture, music, etc.?)
The film stars Ahidjo Mahamat Moussa as the older brother, Tahir, and Hamza Moctar Aguid as Amine, the younger brother. Zara Haroun plays their mother. (Is she married to director Haroun, or is she related to him?) Mounira Khalil plays "The Mute Girl," as listed in the credits. (I would prefer "The Nameless Girl who is deaf and mute.")
This movie is worth seeing on its own merits. That fact that it's from Chad makes it even more important to view it. If I counted correctly, less than a dozen films have been made in Chad. The superb Dryden Theatre at The Eastman Museum in Rochester is showing five of these movies as part of a Haroun retrospective. My compliments to the Dryden for giving us the opportunity to see these movies on the large screen.
Some of Haroun's films are available for the small screen, but some are not. Even with the resources of the Eastman Museum, a print of "Bye Bye Africa" couldn't be located. (If you know someone who has a print of that movie, please notify the Dryden Theatre.)
This is a strong and important movie. If you can find it, and watch it, you'll almost certainly enjoy it.
Abouna is, in a way, a quest movie. Two young boys awake to find their father missing. They set out to find him, and the plot unfolds from there. The film has true drama. It's very moving, but also informative. (How many of us know anything about Chadian society, culture, music, etc.?)
The film stars Ahidjo Mahamat Moussa as the older brother, Tahir, and Hamza Moctar Aguid as Amine, the younger brother. Zara Haroun plays their mother. (Is she married to director Haroun, or is she related to him?) Mounira Khalil plays "The Mute Girl," as listed in the credits. (I would prefer "The Nameless Girl who is deaf and mute.")
This movie is worth seeing on its own merits. That fact that it's from Chad makes it even more important to view it. If I counted correctly, less than a dozen films have been made in Chad. The superb Dryden Theatre at The Eastman Museum in Rochester is showing five of these movies as part of a Haroun retrospective. My compliments to the Dryden for giving us the opportunity to see these movies on the large screen.
Some of Haroun's films are available for the small screen, but some are not. Even with the resources of the Eastman Museum, a print of "Bye Bye Africa" couldn't be located. (If you know someone who has a print of that movie, please notify the Dryden Theatre.)
This is a strong and important movie. If you can find it, and watch it, you'll almost certainly enjoy it.