TIPTOPSTARS

Cameroonian film on Witchcraft to hit German Ethnographic Film Festival

Ernest Kanjo / Wednesday, 11 April 2012 21:29

If marketing Cameroonian films is still a major challenge, exhibiting them at international forums is not, any longer. For the past couple of years, Cameroonian films have been fairing well at festivals, a clear indication that the country’s filmmakers are defying the not-too-smooth economic environment to do good quality productions.

In that light, the 11th Göttingen International Ethnographic Film Festival, taking place from May 9 to 13, 2012 will be another opportunity to savour a piece of good art, fashioned in a purely Cameroonian style. Sorcellerie, l’enfer d’une Croyance (The Nightmare of a Belief) is a well-researched documentary on sorcery scripted by Samuel Loe and Vincent Djeumo and written by Lars Gutsche and Bell Bona.

Subtitled in English and German, The Nightmare of a Belief is surely going to give critics at the festival a run for their time. Not only is the topic topical, the story is cinematographically and cinematically crafted to suit the context.

Its author, Samuel Loe was born and bred in Cameroon. He grew up in a society where everyone believed in the existence of witchcraft. So, every tragedy or evil that befell society was caused by a supernatural being. His childhood was therefore marked by witchcraft belief and practices. After five years of studies as a student of film production,he returned to his country, this time not to visit his family, but to unveil the mysteries and secrets of witchcraft…He dived into the darkness of the deep forest of Mbangui Chari in the West region of Cameroon just to understand this world of fear, darkness, anxieties, sorrows, confusion, illusions, grief, wickedness, magic, doom. This film based on a true life story which recounts the personal experiences of the author. It shows some ritual practices and victims of witchcraft in the Cameroonian society. The 62-minute documentary, shot on HDV (1080i50), 16:9 is manned by a strong group of experienced filmmakers.

Synopsis

Samuel was born and brought up in Cameroon. He grew up in a society where everyone believed in the existence of witchcraft, every tragedy or evil at that time was caused by a supernatural being. His life as a child was marked by witchcraft belief and practices. After five years of studies as a student of film production,he returned to his country, this time not to visit his family but to unveil the mysteries and secrets of witchcraft…He dived into the darkness of the deep forest of Mbangui Chari in west Cameroon in other to understand this world of fear, darkness, anxieties, sorrows, confusion, illusions, grief, wickedness, magic, doom; the world of witchcraft! His childhood nightmare! This film based on a true life story tells his personal experiences and also shows some ritual practices and victims of witchcraft in the Cameroon society.

DETAILS

Original Title: The nightmare of a belief
English Title: The nightmare of a belief
French Title: Sorcellerie, l’enfer d’une croyance
Genre: Documentary
Length: 62 Min
Format: HDV (1080i50), 16:9
Subtitle: Englisch, German
Germany 2012

CREW

Director/Camera: Samuel Loe
Editor: Jeremie Jean
Producer: Susanne Ehlerding
Sound: Stephane Nouga
Script: Samuel Loe, Vincent Djeumo
Writers: Lars Gutsche, Bell Bona
Narrator: Samuel Loe
Additional Camera: Peter Njodzeka
Reseachers: Serges Aimé Fossi, Ulyce Panga
Translators: Doris Ogazi, Sandra Neumayer
Patrick Nouga, Vincent Djeumo
Music: Sven Gerrlich
Soundmix: Olaf Gutsche
Color Correction: Michael Silich
Subtitel: Jens Körters