This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection

The story is a sad saga, and sadder still for its familiarity. Simply put "Progress" marches in and paves over villages. More specifically the "dammed" are flooded out of their homes, something that may resonate from China to Mexico to the United States or in this case to the heart of Lesotho. While this film is resplendent in flavors of Lesotho, do not miss it for its remarkable 1) sound!!! From the opening oration and instrumentation over a tracking shot to the stunning soundtrack work by Yu Miyashita to other sounds captured. 2) performance by Mary Twala. RIP on this date in 2000, but what a towering swan song performance to a lengthy career and life. I understand she does not speak Sesotho, of course neither do I. But her face alone has its own rich language, and the the director (who *does* speak Sesotho) chose Ms. Twala and found so much strength in her. 3) range in hues of blue. This is one film I expect to watch again, and maybe even just listen to it again. It is not a jeremiad, but it is a lively cinematic creation from Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese.

Rarely you will see films like this. So strong, poetic and emotional. The stories told through two ways. One from the futuristic place who is narrating and one happening in front of ypur eyes. Very few words are spoken in the latter but with very high impact. The music, the acying, expressions, story are so bold and real. It is equivalent of stabbing yourself in the heart repeatedly. We all see the progress as betterment but if it goes against the nature then is it really progress? It takes courage to standup to things and for some it maybe burial but it leaves people with belief they can standup against the colonialism and other things which are suppressing them, hence the resurrection. The colonialism destroyed everywhere they go and even change the names to rewrite the history. But that wont be last. Because we carry our ancestors with the stories. They will live till we have these stories.

A visual and aural treat. Mosese is Africa's most promising director alive. He has put Lesotho on the world's quality cinema map with this film. Beautiful cinematography, casting, art direction, sound management and original scriptwriting.

Lesotho, never heard about this country before; Sotho never knew there was such a language. It took sometime for me to get into the film, only then I realised how deep, intense, unique and poetic is this film. There are so many elements of a perfect art house product. A Director with a vision, a cinematographer who completely understands him, the perfect cast who did an amazing job, and all other aspects of cinematic grammar makes it an outstanding film.