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"Is Carmen Sandiego
Your Sister?" |
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Directed by Mark
Dornford-May - Written
by Georges Bizet, Mark
Dornford-May
Starring Pauline
Malefane, Andile Tshoni,
Zweilungile Sidoyi
Distributed by
Fortissimo -
2005 - 120mins - Rated
PG |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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B+ |
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Carmen goes to Cape Town... |
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The 2005 winner of the
Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, "U-Carmen e-Khaylitsha" is a
spirited, seductive interpretation of Georges Bizet's classic opera,
"Carmen." The film is spoken and sung entirely in Xhosa, one of South
Africa's 11 official languages, and the entire cast is comprised of
local stage actors & actresses with no prior film or opera experience.
The end result should send Steven Soderbergh, with his novice
experiment "Bubble," into hibernation for years to come.
"U-Carmen," as I will refer to it, was filmed entirely in the township
of Khayelitsha near Cape Town in South Africa and nearly its entire
production budget was funded by South African businesses appealing to
South Africa's growing middle class.
"U-Carmen" is currently playing at the Indianapolis International Film
Festival, and it felt particularly appropriate to view the film on
South Africa's "Freedom Day," the day marking the end of apartheid in
South Africa.
The film combines the best of Bizet's opera with a genuine reverence
towards South African culture. While the music of "Carmen" oozes out
of every corner of the film, it is often blended with genuine African
beats, rhythms, songs and traditions. The result is a film that exudes
the life and spirit of the slums of South Africa without every making
light of the challenges that exist within.
As "Carmen," Pauline Malefane is hypnotic and enchanting as the
seductive young woman who woos because she can. Malefane, who began
singing in local choirs and attended the University of Cape Town's
School of Music, projects both confidence and vulnerability with equal
believability and conviction.
American audiences are likely to compare Malefane to Queen Latifah.
Both actresses are non-traditional beauties (TRANSLATION: They are NOT
skinny with perfect breasts) with powerful singing voices, a strong
stage presence, an outward confidence and both possess a rich
sensuality that literally pours out onto the big screen. Indeed,
Malefane's approach to the arias of "Carmen" is understated, as
opposed to the typical flamboyancy that often accompanies the opera.
This results in a "Carmen" that slowly and quietly draws you in rather
than powerfully pulling you in. It's more like a slow, simmering stew
that finally boils over.
Watching the entire cast, not all of whom speak Xhosa as their native
language, sing the magnificent heights of "Carmen" in this
tongue-clicking language is literally an awesome experience. By
honoring the cultural traditions of South Africa in this film,
co-writer and director Mark Dornford-May created sound effects and an
atmosphere that allowed for the perfect blending of the very unique
Xhosa language with the dynamic richness of Bizet's work.
Also offering a strong performances is Andile Tshoni as Jongikhaya,
the subject of Carmen's seduction. While Tshoni doesn't quite offer
the emotional variance of Malafane when he goes from disinterested
officer of the law to a man willing to forsake nearly everyone and
everything to have Carmen, he does offer a strong voice that
communicates with tremendous clarity his growing weakness in all
matters related to this woman with whom he falls in love.
The entire cast, many of whom are active in Dimpho Di Kopane, an
ensemble lyric theatre company, a South African theatrical company
started in 2000 that has achieved tremendous international acclaim in
a short period of time.
Lungelwa Blou, Zweilungile Sidloyi, and Zamile Gantana also provided
strong performances in supporting roles.
Charles Hazlewood's original music is a fine interpretation of Bizet's
work, and Dornford-May's use of actual township slum areas adds
intensely to the mood of the film. The cinematography is generally
effective, however, there were multiple shots in which the lighting
was a bit off-balance which created difficulty in watching the facial
expressions of the characters as they spoke. Likewise, while the
authenticity of the sounds of South Africa is to be admired it was,
nevertheless, at times a bit too convoluted to be understood. This
would seem to be especially true for those not familiar with South
African languages and dialects. It is to the credit of the entire cast
that this was seldom distracting, and on more than one occasion I was
so immersed in the characters before me I completely forgot I was
reading subtitles.
"U-Carmen", as directed by Mark Dornford-May, is as rich and
captivating and multi-faceted as the character on which it is based.
Based upon a story that is, at its very essence, quite tragic it is
hard to deny that this film is also quite inspirational in the
beautiful way in which it captures the heart and soul of such a
magnificent city.
"U-Carmen e-Khaylitsha" is as Carmen always has been and always should
be...inviting, seductive and impossible to resist. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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TC Candler's Comment
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Jacob Hall's
Comment
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