MAMA AFRICA
Deutschland/Republik Südafrika/Finnland 2011 – Director: Mika Kaurismäki – Original language: English – Length: 91 min.
Miriam Makeba is Mama Africa. The singer, who died in 2008, was a major voice in modern, traditionally-based South African music and an ambassador in the fight against Apartheid and social injustice in her country._Using an array of archive material Aki Kaurusmäki takes us on a poignant journey through time revealing the highs and lows of his protagonist’s music career and the inspiring struggles of a political activist. Interviews with significant and noteworthy contemporaries of Makeba and plenty of footage of her powerful performances, which demonstrate her remarkable voice, give the film its magic. An homage to an important figure in recent history and a great world music singer.
English/Original Title: Mama Africa. Writer: Mika Kaurismäki, Don Edkins. Camera: Jacques Cheuiche Wolfgang Held Frank P. Lehmann Martina Radwan, Eran Tahor. Sound: Uwe Dresch, Tobias Fleig. Editing: Karen Harley Uwe Dresch André Bendocchi-Alves. Music: Andreas Schilling. Production: STARHAUS Filmproduktion. Producer: Rainer Kölmel. Co-Producers: Millennium Films, Cape Town Marianna Films Oy, Helsinki ZDF, Arte. International Sales: Fortissimo Films.
