An International African Stories Video Fair: Videos

Videos

Video Fair plans to screen a number of videos covering a wide range of themes and topics relevant to lives of all Zimbabweans. The following is a partial list of videos which will be screened as part of our goal to make educational films and videos accessable to those in rural and high-density areas.

Topics

Agriculture
AIDS

Culture
Development
Education & Training
Environment
Gender Issues
Health

In Zimbabwe, communal farmers are benefiting from agricultural extension services which involve their communities in setting and fulfilling their own development goals. Extension staff are learning to become better listeners and facilitators in a process of two-way communication. This video describes an approach to rural extension which combines technical and social development in a process of collective learning. (Zimbabwe, 50 minutes)

The story of two children's abrupt journey into a world of adult responsibilty. It is a story of love and of the triumph of human spirit in the face of tragedy. Tamari and Itai are devastated following the tragic death of both their parents. As family and neighbors turn their heads, the children are left with nothing. Frustrated and despairing, Itai tries his luck in the big city, leaving Tamari at home to fend for herself and their younger brother and sister. For the children this is a time of fear and survival. For the people around them it must become a question of compassion. In the end it is only tragedy that can bridge the gulf of denial between their two worlds and make the community realise that these are everyone's children. (Zimbabwe, 85 minutes)

Thandi is only a teenager, ready for anything and ripe enough for love. She is a girl flirting with womanhood and township beckons. But she still has to find out the dangers when David, the schoolboy Mister Charming, coolly sweeps her off her feet. As her life spins out of control and beyond her parents reach, Thandi has to learn that playing with love may mean playing with her life. The video clearly shows what happens to a township girl when she realises that falling in love is not so simple. The dangers involved are not just unwanted pregnancies. In a time of AIDS, it is about life itself. (Zimbabwe, 90 minutes)

Patrick and Neria through shared hard work and resourcefulness, have built a comfortable home, good life and family in the city. But when their loving and equal partnership ends with the tragic death of Patrick, Neria's nightmare begins. Patrick's brother, Phineas, helps himself to their car, bank book, furniture and house. He takes advantage of tradition to suit his own needs, making no effort to take care of his late brother's family. Yet Phineas claims that tradition & law are on his side. Neria watches helplessly at first but later decides she must fight back. In desperation she seeks legal justice & intelligently fights for her rights. (Zimbabwe, 103 minutes)

The film takes us inside the vibrant music scene of Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo's exhilarating and exasperating capital of four million. Its back alleys and night clubs pulsate to the beat of some of the most influential music in the world today. The film stars one of the legendary figures of Zairean music--Papa Wemba as Kuru. Kuru wants to become a big signing star, and the only place to reach such stardom is in Kinshasa. When he arrives in Kinshasa, nobody belives that he is a musician. Kuru lands himself a job as a servant for Nvuandu, a businessman who owns a music band. Kuru's life takes an unexpected turn when he falls in love with Nvuandu's second wife to be. Using his wit and talent, he wins her over, tricks his greedy boss and suceeds in signing his "theme song" on national television. The film has an infectious spirit and its affirmation of life in the face of seemingly over-whelming obstacles, captures an essential part of contempary African reality. (DRC, 85 minutes)

This film exploresthe right of oppressed nationalities to be able to live as they need to live and to effectely decide their own destinies. It symbolically examines the supposition of nationality, and it's implications for us, by equating it with identity through the eyes of a protagonist whose message comes from the grave. (Zimbabwe, 17 minutes)

Tariro's education is under threat because she is a girl. Her father is deep in debt with the local storekeeper and in order to keep him satisfied, her father promises Tariro as his bride. Tariro's older sister overhears their sinister plan and confronts her father. The mother is shocked at her husband's plan and together the women convince Tariro's father that she is too young to be married off and rather must finish her education. (Zimbabwe, 40 minutes)

Meena's father doesn't let her go to school with her younger brother Raju. When Meena proves to her village the value of educating girls (through an adventure with her pet parrot Mithu), her parents drop their opposition and let her go to school. (India, 14 minutes)

Meena's schoolteacher teaches her how to save her baby sister from diarrhoea, thus convincing her grandmother the value of education. (India, 13 minutes)

In Zimbabwe, the villagers of Mototi play in this hilarious drama about the importance of trees. Mathau plants saplings all over his land. "A country is naked without trees," he says. His friends think he is mad--until they see with their own eyes that his trees do help nourish the soil and prevent erosion, offer shade for his animals and provide food, medicines and timber. (Zimbabwe, 34 minutes)

Stung by the realization that her brother's work is valued more than hers, Meena challenges Raju to swap chores and meals for a day. He soon learns how hard his sister works, and from then on they share their food. (India, 13 minutes)

Meena's uncle has arranged for his daughter Rita to marry Babu. But Rita is only 15 and has not yet finished school, while Babu -- who is studying to be a doctor -- does not want ot marry and realize it is unsafe for young girls to become mothers. To everyone's satisfaction, the marriage is postponed until Rita is 18 and has completed her education. (India, 13 minutes)

Meena's schoolteacher teaches her how to save her baby sister from diarrhoea, thus convincing her grandmother the value of education.

Mirembe's excitement at being pregnant for the first time turns to anxiety after witnessing her elder sister's death while delivering her fifth child. Mirembe's friend advises her to got for antenatal checkups, but Mirembe's husband is not easily convinced. (Uganda, 2 x 25 minutes)

While drowning his worries at a local barr, Kato bumps into his old girlfriend Maria. One thing leads to another and he contracts an STD, bringing serious consequences for his pregnant wife. (Uganda, 2 x 25 minutes)