Un incendio visto da lontano

This one, made just before the above, is a great film too, set in a village in Senegal. I saw it with literally no subs, as the ones available don't even cover a fifth of the dialogue – and yet that was a minor issue, and I had no problems in enjoying the film. It helps that there is not much to understand, it is just a matter of losing yourself in the rhythmic life of Africa. Bonded with nature, the villagers give a natural and phenomenal show, imbuing even the most mundane of activities with an earthy charm. We observe their fishing, their eating, and again there is only a shadow of a story, it is more like a gradually unfolding fable. The sequence of the rains is a treasure and will engulf even the hardened cinephiles. But such peace cannot be immortal, and slowly, modernization disrupts their life. The forest around them disappears slowly but surely, and the natives are forced to relocate. The film captures their life with honesty, and thus, beauty, and the rituals are a treat for the eye. The director captures harsh reality in juxtaposition with an utopic lifestyle, and raises the age long question again – rural or urban? And as I always maintain about great people, he gives the issue his own touch, and it comes alive on screen. The visuals, as expected, are sparkling and the peaceful yet fulfilled lifestyle is something that one should not miss. The film ends in a strange note – a sarcastic jab at the urbane, probably.