CURRENT FILM SERIES

African Film Series in 2009

General Information
Film Schedule
Directions
Contact

General Information

Sponspored by the School of Literature, Communication and Culture, the Sam Nunn School of Interntional Affaris, and the School of History, Technology and Society. Co-curated by: Angela Dalle Vacche and Scott Balcerzak. Design by: Jenifer Vandagriff. Special thanks goes to the Cultural Servies of the French Embassy in New York, Linda Dubler - Film Curator High Museum, Fox Harrell, Mike Best, and Paulette Richards.

Film Schedule

Monday, February 16, 2009
Sarraounia (Mauritania, 1987)

Mauritania-born director Med Hondo`s sweeping historical drama tells the story of Sarraounia, the sorcerer queen who led the Aznas to resist France in 1899. As other kingdoms surrendered or collaborated with the French, Sarraounia led her male warriors when armies launched a brutal attack on her fortress capital of Lougou. Hailed by Le Monde as the "first African Epic," Sarraounia marks a triumph in Hondo`s varied career directing everything from radical political documentaries to historical musicals, as well as noteworthy work as an actor and activist. Hondo has been considered a major figure in African cinema since his first feature, Soleil O, played at Cannes in 1970. Sarraounia was featured at festivals in Montreal, San Francisco, Berlin, Moscow, Atlanta, and London, and won several awards at the annual African Film Festival FESPACO. (120 Minutes)

Wednesday February 18, 2009
Buud Yam (Burkina Faso, 1997)

Director Gaston J-M Kabore follows the character of Wend Kuuni, an abandoned youth adopted by a village community. When his adoptive sister falls ill, he sets out on a quest to find a legendary healer. As he leaves on this rite of initiation, the journey also leads to him questioning his own roots. After studying history and film in Paris, Kabore returned to his homeland to teach at the national film institute, which closed in 1987. Since 2005, he has overseen Imagine in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, a school that trains new professionals in film and video. Buud Yam and his first feature film Wend Kuuni (1981) are viewed by Kabore as companion metaphors for post-colonial Africa`s own struggle for voice and identity, with the director stating in a recent interview, "After the trauma of colonialism, once you are aware you can speak for yourself, what are you going to say?" Buud Yam was winner of the top prize at the African film festival FESPACO. (99 Minutes)

Thursday, February 19,2009
Me and My White Pal (Burkina Faso, 2003)

Clearly drawing off of personal experience as a foreign student, Burkina Faso-born and Paris-trained filmmaker S. Pierre Yameogo explores the complexities of cultural difference and interracial friendship in this satirical comedy. African student Mamadi takes a night job as a parking attendant and befriends fellow worker Franck, the first white man he meets in Paris who does not see him as a lazy foreigner. After accidently getting their hands on illegal drugs, Mamadi and Franck find themselves on the run from dangerous thugs and hiding out in Mamadi`s native country, only to run into more problems. By providing a cross-cultural look at what it means to be a foreigner - for both Mamadi in France and Franck in Burkina Faso -Yameogo satirizes popular cultural myths in both cultures through exposing the superficial view of all foreigners as aliens. Me and My White Pal was the winner of two awards at the African film festival FESPACO. (90 Minutes)

Directions

The Clary Theater in the Student Success Center is built into the west side of the football stadium. The entrance to the Center is near the base of Tech Tower, the campus's most visible landmark.

You can park in one of two lots:
1. Burge Parking (on North Ave., close to the Success Center)
2. Visitor Parking (close to the Student Center, a 7 minute walk)

Burge Parking

Exit the Interconnector (I-75/85) and get on North Ave. heading west.
After Techwood Drive, move to the left lane and prepare to turn left.
Turn left into driveway just before the pedestrian overpass.
Burge Parking Garage entrance is on the right.
Parking is available on the ground level and is free in the evening.

From Burge Parking to Success Center (a 2 minute walk)

Cross North Avenue on pedestrian overpass.
Walk up the stairs to side of football stadium.
Follow the sidewalk on the right to the front doors of the Success Center.

From Burge Parking to Visitor Parking

If Burge is full (it is a small lot), continue west on North Avenue for only 100 more feet.
Go right onto Cherry St., a small entrance to campus.
At stop sign turn left onto Ferst Drive.
Visitor parking is 300 yards ahead on your right.

From Visitor Parking to Success Center (a 7 minute walk)

Walk back out to Ferst Drive
Turn left and walk back to Cherry St.
Cross Cherry St. and continue on footpath, passing in front of Tech Tower
The Success Center is straight ahead.

Inside the Success Center, take an immediate left to foyer of Clary Theater.

For more directions to the Georgia Tech campus, please visit Georgia Tech Alumni Map.

Contact

Questions? Contact Angela Dalle Vacche at"angela.dallevacchelcc.gatech.edu" or (404) 365-9239.