JOHANNESBURG: Atanásio Nyusi, a compelling storyteller and
legendary Mapiko dancer, takes us on a visually dramatic journey through
Mozambique’s past and present.
The Sound of Masks, directed and produced by Sara Gouveia,
is a beautifully moving ode to the cultures of Mozambique told primarily
through dance and music. The film is
based on the story of a Mozambican dancer and storyteller, Atanásio Nyusi, who
takes us on a journey into the world of Mapiko, a traditional masked dance.
This mysterious dance, once used as social commentary to
challenge colonization, is the heart and soul of Makonde culture: a way of
celebrating freedom and cultural identity through movement, music and sound.
The film is as much a post-colonial journey through memory
and heritage as it is a time race against the progressive erosion of traditional
cultural references.
After its World Premiere at IDFA in November 2018, the film
had its African Premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival 2018 and
has been selected to have its North American Premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian
International Documentary Festival, taking place from April 25th – May 5th
2019. North America’s largest documentary festival, Hot Docs offers an
outstanding selection of over 200 films from Canada and around the world to
Toronto audiences of more than 200,000. The film will screen as part of the
Arts Cape's program that is showcase for the arts, creativity, music and pop
culture.
Blending observational footage, archive material and
contemporary dance sequences, The Sound of Masks crosses the threshold between
real and imaginary. These two parallel story-worlds are interwoven creating a
visual narrative linking past and present in a radically shifting country.
The Sound of Masks is a work of art in-itself, a visually
stirring and emotionally compelling journey into the story of a man, as well as
the story of his country. The Director,
Sara Gouveia has this to say of the making of the film, “The main intention behind
this film is to share this story, as told by Atanásio, as an impression of a
place at a particular period in time. I hope that through the sharing of this
story, the film can live up to Atanásio’s deep belief in the healing power of
storytelling.”
The film is the debut feature length documentary from young
filmmaker, Sara CF Gouveia.
Her medium-length documentary Mama Goema: The Cape
Town Beat In Five Movements (55 min., 2011) won the award for Best SA
Documentary at the TriContinental Film Festival 2011, screened at festivals
worldwide and was broadcast on SABC.
Tweet us @GoXtraNews or simply send an email to our Editor Buchule Raba editor@goxtranews.com for any coverage related issues or event invites. You can also Tweet @BuchuleB
Tweet us @GoXtraNews or simply send an email to our Editor Buchule Raba editor@goxtranews.com for any coverage related issues or event invites. You can also Tweet @BuchuleB
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