My review was written in April 1993 after a Lincoln Center screening.
Militant to a fault, this documentary on the history and legacy of colonialism in Cameroon is of obvious educational value to properly motivated American audiences. Director's idiosyncratic approach in the documentary form also gives it entertainment value.
Director Jean-Marie Teno, who also narrates, says he started out to do a film about Cameroon's publishing industry, but decided to extend his purview. Result is an often fascinating historical piece blending newsreels, interviews and staged scenes.
He gives a capsule history of the republic, occupied by the Germans before World War II and the French thereafter. It became independent January 1, 1960, but Teno has harsh things to report about its presidents and killings to illustrate their harsh rule.
France is the main target of Teno's criticism, as he points out that the former colonial power is still dominating Cameroon industries, especially publishing. He makes a plea for self-reliance, statking the familiar fear of cultural domination from abroad that can wipe out a nation's heritage. For American viewers, this ironically echoes France's frequent protests against domination by Hollywood and the English lingo.
Director's satirical approach is wide-ranging, even staging an interview with a TV magnate who callously rejects his request for production funds. Best segment features stand-up comic Aboubakar doing a mock press conference with very clever impressions of foreign journalists.
Though pic's focus is on Cameroon there's a segment paying tribute to assassinated leader Patrice Lumumba of the former Belgian Congo.
