Search - Daresalam on DVD

Idealism versus realism in a beautifully shot film set in Ch

Utah Blaine | Somewhere on Trexalon in District 268 | 07/25/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Two young Chadian friends get swept up in revolutionary fervor in Chad in the 1970s. Their village is pillaged by government soldiers looking to collect an unjust tax, and the men decide to join the revolution against the government to hopefully improve the living conditions of their families and neighbors. They begin the revolution as idealistic soldiers, but after several victories and defeats, their views become more nuanced and complex, ultimately diverging until a sudden and surprising twist at the end. There is really alot to like about this film. I had never seen a film made in Chad before and I found this film fascinating if for no other reason than it offers a `Chadian' slice of life view into their society. The viewer will gain some small insights into village life in Chad, family relationships, etc. The cinematography is outstanding as well, there are lots of great shots of the beautiful, austere landscape of Chad. Even beyond the local Chadian issues though, the themes discussed in this film are really timeless and I think appeal to a wider audience whether you have any particular interest in Chad. What choices do we make when reality doesn't conform to our naive idealist image? Does the revolution continue even if we are not soldiers actively fighting? How can we, more generally, best serve our families and our societies? This is a low-budget film, but I view this as a strength. The focus of this film is on dialogue, themes, and cinematography, not lots of special effects (if you are looking for an action film about a guerrilla war, this isn't it). The only negative about this film is that the acting, particularly by some of the minor players, is extremely stiff. A minor complaint though, this is a good film and definitely worth a look."