Africa
2000
one more chance
By Kirubel Tadesse
¨ Directed by: Adonis
¨ Story by: Solomon Alemu
¨ Type: Romantic Suspense
¨ Duration: 108 min.
It was a fraction of a second that changed his life once and for
all. As he took a left with his bike, he spotted his high school
girlfriend who had left Addis Ababa following her mother reassignment
to Desie. He couldn’t risk missing the taxi she was in, stuck
in traffic; he rode through the grass island separating the two
streets and caught her taxi.
Starting from their moment of reunion, this couple shows the audience
how sweet real love tastes, in this new Amharic film, ‘AAnd
Edil’, (One chance). This lucky couple, who found their high
school love intact, didn’t waste any time to hit it off even
if Menbere’s mom is in jail and Tarik had to work extra hard
to cover expenses such as college fees. Main character Menbere,
played by poet Meron Getnet, had only one thing in mind after her
mom gained freedom which was followed by her graduation, to marry
her boyfriend Tarik, played by Solomon Alemu. Tarik supported her
in every way possible and gave up a chance of going to Europe to
be reunited with his father.
As Menbere says in the film, there is always a hindrance which may
separate lovers to a point where one questions what the God of love
is doing?! Horrible things happen to eventually force Menbere to
run away from her love Tarik. The problem escalates putting Tarik’s
life in danger and claiming innocent life on the way. After enjoying
a few romantic months of romance, the audience travels with the
couple through their decisive chapter that not only determines their
future but also their well-being, as the film flies to its climax.
What is this crisis which causes the trouble and will this love
survive or not is for you to find out.
The film’s writer, Solomon, who also plays the main character,
presents himself as another taxi driver character after the well
deserved popularity he gained in a similar role in a popular Addis
Ababa TV drama. Meron, well known as a host of Ethiopian Idol and
her collection of poetry book ‘Zureto’, displayed another
talent, taking up a strong character that has to show a lot of emotions
in difficult circumstances which could be tough even for experienced
actresses.
When you watch ‘AAnd Edil’ you will see some of the
colorful events in Ethiopia; the characters taking part in the Great
Run especially near Hilton hotel where participant enjoyed the water
spray, and the Lalibela church ceremony held on January 7 for Ethiopian
Christmas annually. The producers of the film didn’t only
spend time and energy to put together an almost perfect cast but
also carefully selected scenes and venues.
All of the characters leave their own impression on audiences, including
the painter who puts the main character’s image in his wonderful
drawing and which was sad to witness when he erased it.
‘And Edil’ of course, contains few errors which are
tolerable considering Ethiopian film industry short record and lack
of access to some technologies. Aside from that, we urge you to
watch this film.
To take part in the difficult but rewarding international film festivals,
the director should consider providing English subtitles for his
film, which he left off after translating just the title.
Festival films are awaiting their Ethiopian
screening
Only four weeks until the 2nd Addis International Film Festival
on Rights and Justice will open its doors on March 21 until 30 at
the Sebastopol Cinema (Exhibition Center). From now on, the festival
team will provide you with the latest news on the festival’s
activities here in the ‘Festival Corner’ and of course
on their website www.addisfilmfestival.org.
The program is final: 30 films and documentaries on rights and justice
have arrived and are waiting to be shown. Ethiopian and international
film makers will present their films which are mainly covering Ethiopian
issues but also delving into topics important to other countries
and continents in the world.
The festival will open on March 21 with the Ethiopian premiere of
the award winning documentary ‘Black Gold’ presented
by the director Nick Francis. The film follows Tadesse – the
head of the Oromia Coffee Union – from the coffee fields in
the hilly Oromia region to the modern town Seattle in the U.S. where
he fights for a just price for Ethiopian coffee. Nick Francis, Tadesse
Meskela and experts from ECA and Oxfam America will be available
for questions and discussion after the screening.
The festival days will be packed with highly interesting films and
documentaries on topics, such as women in war (The Greatest Silence),
Ethiopian classics (The Father, Harvest 3000), children’s
rights and their dreams of a better world (‘African Spelling
Book’, ‘I want to be a Pilot’), women with fistula
(‘A Walk to Beautiful), the privatisation of necessary goods
(‘The Big Sellout’) etc. After the screenings, experts
and/or the film director will be available for questions.
Moreover, a theatre play (in Amharic) on gender has been set up
and will have its premiere on coming Saturday, Women’s International
Day, March 8th at 4 p.m. at the Goethe Institut (German Cultural
Institute). Everyone is welcome (free entrance). In the following
weeks, the theatre group will tour Addis’ high schools to
engage the students in the topic of women’s rights.
Joe Diverio ignites crowd @ Italian Culture
By Kirubel Tadesse
The Italian Cultural Institute has concluded ‘February in
Music’ a program. Joe Diverio, a successful recording artist
of the sixties, entertaining the public with Italian, French, Latino
and American hits.
The crowd sang along with Joe on some of the very popular American
songs and some Italian songs which are familiar to Ethiopians. Joe
Diverio held iconic status in Lebanon during the 70’s and
80’s where his recording topped the music charts has outselling
George Michael and Madonna. His first release, ‘Los Ejes de
mi carreta’ received a wide international praise.
Joe released ‘Une nuit aux Caves du Roi’ and ‘Lebanon
80’ in 1974 and in 1980 respectively. In 1995 he returned
to Beirut and released ‘Divera’, at the same time EMI
re-issued ‘Lebanon 80’.
Joe’s unique talent of ‘talking to his piano’
has been attracting millions of fans around the world. Addis Ababa’s
resident Italian’s and also Ethiopian nationals expressed
their appreciation in extended ovation at the end of the 100 minutes
show.
With Joe’s concert on Tuesday February 26, 2008, one of the
active cultural centers in Addis Ababa, the Italian Cultural Institute
completed its program for the month. The program comprised events
such as ‘Great music of the Italian cinema’ held on
February 2 and ‘The Salvation of God’, an art exhibition
of works in wood, leather, carving and painting by Ethiopian artist
Mezemer Lissanework held on February 14. Italian movies with English
subtitles and the Trio concert which was organized by the embassies
of Belgium and Italy on February 15, were also enjoyed by audiences.
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