Muna Moto (1975)
(The Child of Another)
Country: CAM
Technical: bw 100m
Director: Jean-Pierre Dikongue-Pipa
Cast: Philippe Abia, Arlette Din Beli, Gisèle Dikongue-Pipa, David Endene
Synopsis:
Young lovers desirous to marry are constrained by the tribal dowry system to remain apart, but nature takes its course and she falls pregnant. The young man's uncle, all of whose wives are 'infertile', then purchases her at a knock down price.
Review:
One of the Cameroonian pioneer's most notable successes, this is still primitive film-making for over a decade into the national film industry's existence, showing the poverty of resources at cineastes' disposal. Dikongue-Pipa turns this at least partly to his advantage, using offscreen dialogue to convey the thoughts of his protagonists, a thematic approach to editing, and stylised close-ups for mythic resonance, as well as the more vérité style of Pather Panchali, for example. Nevertheless, the film suffers from some shortcomings in terms of narrative cinema, with a confusing opening which introduces, then drops, another happier couple, an absence of continuity stranding other scenes, and precious little sense of location to unite the various theatres of action.
(The Child of Another)
Country: CAM
Technical: bw 100m
Director: Jean-Pierre Dikongue-Pipa
Cast: Philippe Abia, Arlette Din Beli, Gisèle Dikongue-Pipa, David Endene
Synopsis:
Young lovers desirous to marry are constrained by the tribal dowry system to remain apart, but nature takes its course and she falls pregnant. The young man's uncle, all of whose wives are 'infertile', then purchases her at a knock down price.
Review:
One of the Cameroonian pioneer's most notable successes, this is still primitive film-making for over a decade into the national film industry's existence, showing the poverty of resources at cineastes' disposal. Dikongue-Pipa turns this at least partly to his advantage, using offscreen dialogue to convey the thoughts of his protagonists, a thematic approach to editing, and stylised close-ups for mythic resonance, as well as the more vérité style of Pather Panchali, for example. Nevertheless, the film suffers from some shortcomings in terms of narrative cinema, with a confusing opening which introduces, then drops, another happier couple, an absence of continuity stranding other scenes, and precious little sense of location to unite the various theatres of action.
(The Child of Another)
Country: CAM
Technical: bw 100m
Director: Jean-Pierre Dikongue-Pipa
Cast: Philippe Abia, Arlette Din Beli, Gisèle Dikongue-Pipa, David Endene
Synopsis:
Young lovers desirous to marry are constrained by the tribal dowry system to remain apart, but nature takes its course and she falls pregnant. The young man's uncle, all of whose wives are 'infertile', then purchases her at a knock down price.
Review:
One of the Cameroonian pioneer's most notable successes, this is still primitive film-making for over a decade into the national film industry's existence, showing the poverty of resources at cineastes' disposal. Dikongue-Pipa turns this at least partly to his advantage, using offscreen dialogue to convey the thoughts of his protagonists, a thematic approach to editing, and stylised close-ups for mythic resonance, as well as the more vérité style of Pather Panchali, for example. Nevertheless, the film suffers from some shortcomings in terms of narrative cinema, with a confusing opening which introduces, then drops, another happier couple, an absence of continuity stranding other scenes, and precious little sense of location to unite the various theatres of action.