Sambizanga

18

Recently restored by the African Film Heritage Project – a collaboration between The Film Foundation, FEPACI, and UNESCO – following an arduous struggle to regain ownership, ‘Sambizanga’ is a testament to resilience, both within its narrative and its own journey of restitution.

Adapted from José Luandino Vieira's literary work, ‘The Real Life of Domingos Xavier’, this cinematic gem recounts the ordeal of insurgent Domingos, his unwavering defiance during captivity, and his wife Maria's determined quest to liberate him from the authorities guided by a clandestine network of rebels. Director Sarah Maldoror weaves a poetic tapestry of three narratives of resistance, honouring the spirit of the underestimated rising. This exquisite restoration not only unveils the genesis of the Angolan War of Independence but also celebrates the intrinsic beauty of African unity.

Restored by Cineteca di Bologna and The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project at L’Image Retrouvée (Paris) from the 35mm original negatives, in association with Éditions René Chateau and the family of Sarah Maldoror. Funding provided by Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation. This restoration is part of the African Film Heritage Project, an initiative created by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, the FEPACI and UNESCO – in collaboration with Cineteca di Bologna – to help locate, restore and disseminate African cinema.

Garnering international acclaim upon its initial release, the film faced subsequent challenges, including restricted access imposed by its French distributor and a subpar, red-tinted version illegally surfaced online, much to the frustration of Maldoror and her daughters. Regrettably, Maldoror passed due to covid during the restoration process, fifty years after the film release. Nonetheless, her daughters carried forth her legacy, culminating in a triumphant restoration and renewed circulation of this masterpiece, a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

This screening will be introduced by Mosa Mpetha, our Cinema Africa! strand curator.

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