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Event
'White Elephant' & 'Atalaku' presented by Congo in Harlem 4
White Elephant
Dir. Kristof Bilsen, 2011. 35 min.
In French and Lingala with English subtitles
Somebody passed by one day: "Mama, does the Post really work? If I leave this letter with you, will it ever arrive?" I told him: "of course it will." He started laughing. "I know for sure it will never reach its destination." White Elephant depicts Congo's central post office and its employees. The postal system, a grandiose relic of Congo's colonial past, has trapped its employees in a Kafkaesque time warp. From the minutia of leaky ceilings and cracked walls to the employees' grand dreams for escape, Bilsen captures a vivid snapshot of life in present day Congo.
Atalaku
(Special Work-in-Progress Screening)
Dir. Dieudonne Hamadi, 2012. 62 min.
In French and Lingala with English subtitles
Atalaku offers an insider view into Congo's 2011 presidential elections. Gaylor, a struggling pastor, has sold his services to the highest paying candidate. As Gaylor attempts to mobilize voters in Kinshasa's gritty streets, filmmaker Dieudonne Hamadi's lens is in the fray, never missing a beat. The atmosphere is charged, and Gaylor comes face to face with the Congolese people's discontent. When elections finally do arrive, the nation's vast poverty besieges the polls, plunging a suspect electoral process into chaos.
Screening followed by discussion with filmmakers Kristof Bilsen and Dieudonne Hamadi. Reception with live music by Isaac Katalay
Performer Bio:
Isaac Katalay
Born in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and now living in New York City, Isaac Katalay's music represents the blending of two worlds. For the past two decades, Isaac has worked as an ensemble musician, choreographer, dancer, and speaker. His style is a distinctive blend of contemporary and traditional Congolese dance moves and aesthetics, which he calls "contemptra". Isaac is also founder of the "Life Long Project" and co-founder of the "Karibu" movement, both of which promote Congolese music and culture in the US.
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LocationMaysles Cinema (View)
343 Lenox Ave.
New York, NY 10027
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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