AUTEUR(S)-RÉALISATEUR(S)
IMAGE
SON
MONTAGE
MUSIQUE ORIGINALE
PRODUCTION / DIFFUSION
Lionfish Productions, Ukbar Filmes
PARTICIPATION
IDFA Bertha Fund, Hot Docs Blue Ice Fund, RTP2
ORGANISME(S) DÉTENTEUR(S) ou DÉPOSITAIRE(S)
ISAN : non renseigné - en savoir plus
Mozambique, Portugal, Afrique du Sud | 2018 | 70 minutes
Un film de Sara CF de Gouveia
Pas de résumé français disponible
Mapiko is a traditional masked dance performed exclusively by the male members of the Makonde community living in northern Mozambique. During the Mozambican War of Independence in the 1960s, this dance became a tool to challenge colonization. His Mapiko dancing skills gave Atanásio Nyusi the opportunity to become a professional dancer and avoid fighting in the civil war that followed independence. In relating his life story, the now legendary dancer also leads us through the history of Mozambique.
Completely concealed except for his fingers and toes and wearing a frightening mask, a man dances to tell the story of Lipanyangule, a mystical figure who eats children. The dance is choreographed by Nyusi, and it communicates not only the ancient legend itself, but also his own history, and that of his people and country. Are the memories in his head real, or are they nightmares? In the sparse but effectively used archive footage, we see flashes of Mozambique’s colonial past, independence struggle and civil war in a dynamic interplay with the dance. As Nyusi shares his story with his son, he offers an in-depth look at the country’s collective memories while working towards leaving his own legacy as an artist.
Mapiko is a traditional masked dance performed exclusively by the male members of the Makonde community living in northern Mozambique. During the Mozambican War of Independence in the 1960s, this dance became a tool to challenge colonization. His Mapiko dancing skills gave Atanásio Nyusi the opportunity to become a professional dancer and avoid fighting in the civil war that followed independence. In relating his life story, the now legendary dancer also leads us through the history of Mozambique. Completely concealed except for his fingers and toes and wearing a frightening mask, a man dances to tell the story of Lipanyangule, a mystical figure who eats children. The dance is choreographed by Nyusi, and it communicates not only the ancient legend itself, but also his own history, and that of his people and country. Are the memories in his head real, or are they nightmares? In the sparse but effectively used archive footage, we see flashes of Mozambique’s colonial past, independence struggle and civil war in a dynamic interplay with the dance. As Nyusi shares his story with his son, he offers an in-depth look at the country’s collective memories while working towards leaving his own legacy as an artist.
Thématique
À propos du film
Distinctions
- 2019 : Doclisboa - Festival Internacional de Cinema Documental - Lisbonne (Portugal) - Sélection Heart Beat
- 2019 : Encounters - South African International Documentary Film Festival - Cape Town (Afrique du Sud) - Sélection
- 2019 : Durban International Film Festival - Durban (Afrique du Sud) - Sélection
- 2018 : IDFA - International Documentary Festival Amsterdam - Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) - Sélection