Product: Nowhere in Africa (2003)
Rating: 5.0
Lyrical and poignant drama about displaced people
I can't believe it has taken me so long to discover this gem of a movie! 'Nowhere in Africa" is an absolutely beautiful movie about people making a life for themselves in a far-off country when their own rejects them and they deal with the complexities that arise as a result.Based on Stefanie Zweig's autobiographical novel, the film tells the true life story of a young Jewish girl and her mother who leave Germany right before the outbreak of WW II. Regina and her mother, Jettel join her father Walter in Kenya to escape Nazi persecution [at a time when expatriation was still possible in Germany]. Jettel has been used to a life of luxury [as Walter used to work as a successful lawyer before the Nazis came to power] and is shocked and dismayed at the simple living conditions in Kenya. Walter has no status in Kenyan society, he is treated as an outsider, and earns a living managing farms for other foreign nationals. Jettel looks down upon the native Kenyans, and this infuriates her husband who likens her attitude to that of the Nazis.It is only with the passage of time that Jettel comes to adapt to her life in Kenya, living among the natives and even appreciating their down-to-earth manner. Regina is the one who is most at ease amongst the wilds of Kenya - she gets along famously with the natives, forming a close bond with their Kenyan cook, Owour, and even though she gets sent off to boarding school, she still maintains a close affection for the natives and keeps local friendships going when she returns on holidays.Ironically, it is Walter who turns out to be the least immersed - he enlists in the war on the side of the Allies, and upon war's end, decides to return to Frankfurt to work as a judge. Jettel and Regina are against this and the family needs to figure out what's best for them.The human relationships in this well-crafted drama are effectively and credibly portrayed - Jettel and Walter embody a couple who seem incompatible when forced into harsh circumstances - Jettel rails against Walter for letting her down [due to his diminished earning capacity], whilst Walter yearns for a wife who is 'more mature' and empathetic. It takes the passage of years [throughout the war] for them to come to terms with each other, shedding their preconceived notions and prejudices along the way. Regina too 'grows' - from a precocious young child with an idealistic picture of her parents to a compassionate and mature adolescent who comes to accept the joys and pitfalls of human relationships.All the actors portray their roles with conviction and credibility. The cinematography is simply stunning - be it the wilds of Kenya, the tribes dancing during a feast, or even an old lady who is peacefully awaiting death, each scene 'speaks' to the soul and leaves an indelible mark upon the viewer.Highly recommended!