Product: Nowhere in Africa (2003)
Rating: 5.0
Far from maddening Germany!
"Nowhere in Africa" (2001) is a new approach to the Holocaust tragedy, done now by a German film director: Caroline Link.This film deservedly earned the Best Foreign Film Oscar 2003 and many other international awards.What's new is that follows a Jewish family's destiny far from Germany and yet deeply affected by the political circumstances.This film starts briefly describing the situation of a well-to-do family residing in an increasingly hostile and restrictive environment.Jettel and her daughter Regina are recalled from Kenya by Walter her husband who is already living there since the year before.Here is the first sore spot to be disclosed. It was not only almost impossible to leave Germany but also to find a country willing to receive the émigrés. If nations at that period had been less restrictive to Jewish emigration, perhaps tragedy could be mitigated.Jettel is suddenly immersed in a different universe. Different people, different climate, different social position, different...everything!As soon as she is starting to adapt, a new major change occurs: WWII explode and her family is considered as enemy by British authorities.Again turmoil, changes and resettlement, Regina is growing up and she is increasingly assuming the key position of being the cultural bridge for her family.There are several high points in this film.Cinematography directed by veteran Gernot Roll (a TV film specialist) shows Kenyan environment with lucid images.Playacting is just great. Julianne Köhler as Jettel shows the difficult metamorphosis from a pampered High-class young woman into a hardened farmer. She will again show her actress proficiency as Eva Braun in "The Downfall" (2004).The two girl-actresses that impersonate Regina, Lea Kurka, the younger and Karoline Eckertz the elder, give a fresh and natural version of a European girl discovering Africa.Last but not least Sidede Onyulo fleshes with deep tenderness Owuor the cooker first and then overseer, butler and confident.It is a great movie not to let it pass by unnoticed!Reviewed by Max Yofre.