Buddha in Africa

Buddha in Africa is a 2019 South African Swedish documentary film produced, written and directed by Nicole Schafer.[1][2] The film follows the story of Enock Alu, a Malawian orphan from a rural village growing up between the contrasting African culture and the strict discipline of the Confucian, Buddhist value of system of the Chinese.[3][4] It explores the impact of the growing influence of Chinese culture in Malawi following increasing trade relations between China and Africa in the past decade.[5]

Not to be confused with Buddhism in Africa.

Buddha in Africa
Directed byNicole Schafer
Screenplay byNicole Schafer
Based onBuddhism in Africa
Produced byNicole Schafer
StarringEnock Alu
CinematographyNicole Schafer
Edited byNicole Schafer
Release date
  • 27 April 2019 (2019-04-27)
Running time
110 minutes
CountriesSouth Africa
Sweden
LanguagesEnglish
Chinese Mandarin

The principal photography of the film commenced in 2012 and had a delayed release in 2019. The film had its world premiere at Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival in April 2019.[6] It has since screened and won awards at numerous festivals around the world.[7]

Synopsis

Enock is six years old when he is taken to a Confucian Buddhist orphanage and given the Chinese name Alu. He becomes extremely skilled in acrobatics. Suddenly he must make a choice to reunite with the culture of Africa or to sign up for five years in order to study in Taiwan.[8]

Production

After being pitched at the 2011 Durban International Film Festival, the film received the IDFA Most Promising Documentary Award. It then received international funding before being selected for the 2018 Cape Town International Film Festival Market Works-in-Progress laboratory.[9]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2019 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.[9] It then screened at several film festivals including Cambridge Film Festival, Encounters Festival South Africa and Sydney Film Festival.[10][11][12]

Having won best South African documentary award at the Durban International Film Festival, the film was automatically nominated for an Academy Award.[13]

Reception

Andrew Parker from the blog The Gate praised the cinematography of the film but criticised the screenplay for its weak content.[14]

References
  1. "Award-winning documentary, "Buddha in Africa", coming to the Garden Route". 25 September 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  2. "Buddha in Africa – Momentofilm". 22 May 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  3. "Buddha in Africa". Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  4. "Buddha in Africa | Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival". www.encounters.co.za. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  5. Vourlias, Christopher (28 April 2019). "'Buddha in Africa' Director Nicole Schafer on China's Soft Power Play". Variety. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  6. "Buddha in Africa to Premiere at 2019 Hot Docs International Festival". 29 March 2019.
  7. "BUDDHA IN AFRICA - catndocs.com". www.catndocs.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  8. "Buddha in Africa". Sydney Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  9. Durban Film Office Press (25 March 2019). "SA documentary selected to have its world premiere at Hot Docs in Canada". Screen Africa. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  10. "2019 Cambridge Film Festival announces full programme | Cambridge Network". www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  11. "Buddha in Africa". Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  12. "Buddha in Africa". Sydney Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  13. Birjalal, Alyssia. "'Buddha in Africa' in consideration for Oscar nomination". IOL. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  14. "Hot Docs 2019 Review: Buddha in Africa". 25 April 2019.
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