lettucel0rd!
Dahomey
Avg 5.0
Jan 23, 2025.
i actually quite like this style of documentary, shooting-wise. this had a very cinematic take on the lives of everyday Beninois; i got to see a side of urban West africa that felt true to when i visited (accra, but still). my point is, it didn’t feel patronizing or overly banal. my favorite part was definitely the university seminar discussing immaterial and material cultural heritage, the effects of colonization on their own language and society, the question of what makes art art and not merely sacred imagery, the role of politicians in bringing these works home and whether they should be satisfied with the 26 works they now have. i feel like i never see well-educated young africans engaged in intellectual conversations in most films; i could listen to them talk forever. benin is lucky to have them. and the carotone ad towards the end?? kind of striking.