This exuberant documentary portrait of a city and its musicians highlights the innovative Afro-Portuguese music scene thriving on the outskirts of Lisbon.
Cinematographer Vasco Viana and Lisbon-born, London-based DJ Rita Maia depict a vibrant community of musicians and producers from diverse backgrounds each establishing their relationship to this complex city. Among many other notable figures, the film features DJ Nigga Fox, previously represented by Portugal’s Principé label, and recently signed by Sheffield’s Warp Records.
Fifty years ago the entire Creole population of the Chagos Islands was expelled by the British authorities. This secret operation took place in order to lease the largest island to the US Navy so that it could build a military base.
Now, with the lease about to expire, Chagossian exiles struggle to recover their homeland. The charismatic woman leading their fight in UK is Sabrina Jean. Through her unrelenting activism, including participation in the World Football Cup for Stateless people, she strives to keep the flame of hope alive in her community: so that her people might finally return home.
"The ripple effects of western imperialism are laid bare in this affecting doc about Creole people ejected from their homeland" - The Guardian
During the Second World War, 45,000 psychiatric patients perished in French hospitals. Only one facility survived intact: an asylum in Saint-Alban an isolated rural village in central France.
At Saint-Alban, doctors, patients, nuns, and nurses worked side by side, for the survival of all. With active resistance in the background, the doctors led a whole community in elaborating a new conception of psychiatry and the madman’s role in society. The fight against the Nazi oppressor changed into a fight against all forms of oppression and confinement. Saint-Alban became the crucible of the “institutional psychotherapy” movement that revolutionized post- war psychiatric care.
Christian, Ben and Jean-Marie are fighting for political change of power and free elections in their country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But the incumbent President refuses to relinquish power. How can the course of events be changed? Must they join forces with the historical opposition leader and his powerful party? Is dialogue still possible or must they resign themselves to a popular uprising and the risk of a blood bath? Kinshasa Makambo immerses us in the combat these three activists are engaged in, a combat that neither bullets, nor prison, nor exile seem able to stop.
"courageous and absorbing" - The Guardian
*not available USA, Canada, Belgium, DRC
In the final days leading up to the Colombian national soccer finals, Jorge, a young hooligan from the slums of northeastern Colombia, travels 1,000 miles across the country with his friends to see his native Bucaramanga’s soccer team. Proving their commitment as loyal fans, they travel by illegally hopping onto trucks to attend the most important game of the season — one that promises the team a chance to return to Division A of the Colombian professional soccer league after eight years in Division B.
"intimate, dirty and glorious" - Letterboxd
