Makala (film)

2017 film

Makala

Film poster

Directed by| Emmanuel Gras
Written by| Emmanuel Gras

Release date

* 23 May 2017 (2017-05-23) (Cannes)

Running time

| 96 minutes
Country| France
Language| French

Makala is a 2017 French documentary film directed by Emmanuel Gras.[1] It was screened in the Critics' Week section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.[2][3] At Cannes, it won the Nespresso Grand Prize.[4]

## Synopsis

[edit]

The story begins without explanation of what the young man, Kabwita, is planning to do. He walks through scattered scrub, and begins to cut down a tree. It seems to be a task too great for one man and his simple axe. Eventually the tree falls, he dismembers it, and builds a huge charcoal oven for it. Over time, the wood converts to charcoal and he loads it into several sacks, which he attaches to a bicycle and begins the journey to a nearby city, 50 km away, to sell it. He hopes to earn enough money to be able to buy roofing iron, so he can build a better house in the village of Kolwezi, for his family, who have been reduced to roasting rats for sustenance. One of his children has a stomach ailment. There are others on the road as he approaches the city, pushing the heavily loaded bicycle. Extortionate toll pirates take one of his sacks as payment to let him pass on the road, and in the city he finds his price is continually beaten down. He buys some medicine for his child, but at an exorbitant price. Eventually he has sold all the charcoal but the roofing iron he wants is too expensive. He cannot buy any of it. He goes to a religious meeting, where a pastor sings and the desperate participants seem to gain hope from the fervour, words and rhythms of the meeting.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "'Makala': Film Review Cannes 2017". Semaine de la Critique. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
2. ^ "Selection of the 56th Critics' Week". Semaine de la Critique. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
3. ^ "56th Critics' Week Press Kit" (PDF). Semaine de la Critique. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
4. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (25 May 2017). "'Makala,' 'Gabriel and the Mountain' Scoop Cannes' Critics' Week Awards". Variety. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
5. ^ Viewed Dunedin (New Zealand) Film Society, 11 September 2019

## External links

[edit]

* Makala at IMDb

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