Hello fam,
Today, I wanted to highlight a filmmaker from my birth country .
Her name is Macherie Ekwa Bahango, born in Kinsangani (DRC Congo) in 1994, she's a filmmaker. Wow. I am really impressed to know and to see a countryside sister reaching her goal.
How Did I discover her?
I was surfing on Instagram one day and more particularly on the posts concerning Congo DRC. I wanted to learn more about my native country. I suddenly came across to a publication and I didn't hesitate to go straight to the film.
SEMA
SEMA in Swahili means SPEAK. This is the story written by more than 60 survivors of sexual violence to denounce the atrocious acts that take place every day in the DRC Coongo.
The film begins with a poignant speech by DR. Denis Mukgege (Nobel Peace Prize 2018).
This film is atrociously realistic and moving. I wept tears from my body. It is terrible and horrible. All the more reason to imagine and experience their fate in the space of a moment.
My review on this film, it's filmed in a very original and particular way. The angles are extraordinary. It touched me a lot because it tells the story and destinies of men and women and even more children from these barbaric acts. The whole thing through various very different portraits is breathtaking.
SEMA is available for free online.
Another day, I came across a publication about another film whose title spoke to me: MAKI'LA (meaning BLOOD), I was immediately interested. So I went to the filmmaker's Instagram page.
To my great surprise it was the same one who produced SEMA. I was stunned. I said Wow. Great respect and thank you.
MAKI'LA
Projected during the 2018 Berlinale, MAKI'LA is a film retracing the history of street children as there are many of them in our country. Many young people live on the streets of the whole of Congo DRC, which is sad.
If you want to watch MAKI'LA, it's currently on Canal+. Let me know what you think 😉
Little interview
After I subscribed to her Instagram page, I noticed that she was quite present on the network so I took the opportunity to ask her a couple of questions 😇
How did you manage to make this movie and did you even get victimized by your own?
- No, I am not a victim, but I was commissioned to make this film based on the stories and testimonies of more than sixty survivors of rape and torture in DRC Congo.
What are your future plans?
- Making films and writing my next film project.
If one day you get a book and you like it, would you agree to make a movie?
- For the moment unfortunately I don't know how to produce other films yet because I'm already working on my next film which is asking a lot of me. Maybe one day.
I can still read a book, but if I'm interested in the project, and I have to do it, I could only do it really, really later.
I love this filmmaker, she's nice and takes the time to answer to her speakers. I'm practically a fan. So far for me, no filmmaker has ever dared to bring these sensitive subjects to the screen in a direct way.
I admire her because she talks about our rude local problems on her own vision.
Were you intrigued and interested in my post? I invite you to check out her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macherie.ekwa/
Congratulations again Macherie Ekwa! I wish you happiness for the future. This post is dedicated to you.
Big Hugs 😍😎
