Congolese writer, poet, and filmmaker Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda is one of African cinema’s most influential voices. With his multi-award-winning films, including Thomas Sankara, Le Baobab de Dagnoen, Le Damier, Papa National Oye!, and Juju Factory, he has set the stage for generations of filmmakers to create bold and honest work.
In his words about tapping into his native language, Kasala, through his films, he says, "I sought to find a narrative structure which would be closer to my culture. This narrative structure is the thread in all of my films. 'Kasala' means 'feather,' a small feather. It is a symbol for everything that flies, for the bird which travels far away. But it is also a symbol of knowledge, as the feather is used for writing. Kasala is about knowing, and my work is about memory." The four short works included in this program further spiritedly and poetically present Bakupa-Kanyinda’s exploration of these ideas.
Please note: the films are presented here in the best available quality.
In Kinshasa, rumor has it that the constitution includes 14 articles. And in order to face the increasing poverty of the people, politicians who have abandoned them are said to have promulgated an Article 15 proclaiming: "Citizens, get out of the mess yourselves!" But as the social situation disintegrated even more, a second Article 15 was apparently added and immediately adopted: "Citizens get out of the mess all over again!" Article 15A expresses the loser's triumphant laughter. In this contemporary fable, three security guards reveal their lowly nature while talking leisurely in the midday heat about public service, corruption, and back pay.
- Year2000
- Runtime15 minutes
- LanguageFrench
- CountryCongo, the Democratic Republic of the
- DirectorBalufu Bakupa-Kanyinda
- ProducerAdéchoubou N'Diagne
- CinematographerJean-Michel Humeau
- EditorDidier Ranz
Congolese writer, poet, and filmmaker Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda is one of African cinema’s most influential voices. With his multi-award-winning films, including Thomas Sankara, Le Baobab de Dagnoen, Le Damier, Papa National Oye!, and Juju Factory, he has set the stage for generations of filmmakers to create bold and honest work.
In his words about tapping into his native language, Kasala, through his films, he says, "I sought to find a narrative structure which would be closer to my culture. This narrative structure is the thread in all of my films. 'Kasala' means 'feather,' a small feather. It is a symbol for everything that flies, for the bird which travels far away. But it is also a symbol of knowledge, as the feather is used for writing. Kasala is about knowing, and my work is about memory." The four short works included in this program further spiritedly and poetically present Bakupa-Kanyinda’s exploration of these ideas.
Please note: the films are presented here in the best available quality.
In Kinshasa, rumor has it that the constitution includes 14 articles. And in order to face the increasing poverty of the people, politicians who have abandoned them are said to have promulgated an Article 15 proclaiming: "Citizens, get out of the mess yourselves!" But as the social situation disintegrated even more, a second Article 15 was apparently added and immediately adopted: "Citizens get out of the mess all over again!" Article 15A expresses the loser's triumphant laughter. In this contemporary fable, three security guards reveal their lowly nature while talking leisurely in the midday heat about public service, corruption, and back pay.
- Year2000
- Runtime15 minutes
- LanguageFrench
- CountryCongo, the Democratic Republic of the
- DirectorBalufu Bakupa-Kanyinda
- ProducerAdéchoubou N'Diagne
- CinematographerJean-Michel Humeau
- EditorDidier Ranz