Product: Nowhere in Africa (2003)
Rating: 5.0
For those who woe good cinema...
I finally had the opportunity to view this movie last weekend. It is a truly remarkable picture that embraces the humanity of people in desperate times and the struggles to cope with the sudden changes in their lives. I won't go deep into the structure of the plot and the character development. My suggestion is to watch this DVD in the biggest screen possible. Only then will you cherish the photography and the landscapes of Africa. What I took out of this picture was the fact that even though this judeo-german family has fled Nazi-run Germany, they face the fact that they are strangers in this new land. Even more interesting is what this couple has to go through to realize if they in fact know each other as husband and wife. Their statuses as Bourgeoisie where she was the family lady and he was a proliferating law practitioner in Germany are brought down to the core when these social masks are taken off. The one that has the least trouble adapting to this new land is their daughter. She sees life with the pureness of a child that finally ends up influencing both her parents. Over the course of the movie, you are provided with moments and clues into their thoughts and worries, often providing the sense of doubt between the couple, the daughter's adaptation, and the reality that no matter what they do, there is a place waiting for them post World War II. Enjoy!