LA Times: Hollywood’s dark approach to African films

January 15th, 2007 Posted in Film/Television, General, Politics

DiCaprio and Hounsou in Blood Diamond The LA Times has an insightful op-ed piece written by Joe Queenan a writer who has written for Barron’s, the New York Times Book Review and London’s the Guardian. The piece titled “Tarzan’s children: Why movies about Africa require white saviors” sheds some light on what Joe calls the “Just Let Bwana Do It!” series of Hollywood films which include “the Constant Gardner” and “The Interpreter”. Mr. Queenan echoes some recent criticism of the movie “Blood Diamond” about the movie’s focus on the Leonardo DiCaprio character instead of Djimon Hounsou’s character, who the story revolves around. Queenan also brings up some points about how some Africans see the West’s influence on their communities.

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Tags: African-identity, blood-diamonds, Film/Television, Mali, Politics, pop-culture, social-awareness

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Marta

Maybe there’s some point about those movies. Though, I really liked DiCaprio in ‘Blood Diamond’. But that’s not what I wanted to write. I think this is in a way to attract the viever and bring him to the theatres to shed some light on the story. Though it is possible with African as main caracter too (‘Hotel Rwanda’, fantastic soundtrack by the way). I remember how hudge impression ‘Blood Diamond’ left me with. Since a year, I’ve been writing a thesis on child soldiers. So all, I’ve red about became picture. And watching this picture was like reading one or another book or report. So to me the child soldiers-scenes were like documentary.

I have to get my hands on that book you mentioned, but I’m affraid it will be impossible to buy it in Europe, at least for now. And I’ll get back to your blog too, because it looks interesting. All the best!