简介：ThefirstculturalactofthenascentMozambiqueGovernmentafterindependencein1975wastocreatetheNationalInstituteofCinema(INC).ThenewpresidentSamoraMachelhadastrongawarenessofthepoweroftheimage,andunderstoodheneededtousethispowertobuildasocialistnation.INC'sgoalwastofilmthepeople,andtodelivertheseimagesbacktothepeople. Reflectingthecountry'scommitmenttoindependenceandsocialism,thehistoryoftheINCandthefilmsitproducedcannotbedisassociatedfromthemovementembodiedbySamoraMachelandFRELIMO(MozambiqueLiberationFront).Footagefromthefilms-foundbyfilmmakerMargaridaCardosoinanabandoned,burntoutbuilding-showMozambique'strajectoryfromgreathopetogreatdisillusionment.Weavingtheseimagestogetherwithinterviewsofthepeoplewhoproducedthem,KUXAKANEMAconstructsahistoryofthebirthanddeathoflocalcinema,andthebirthanddeathofanideology. Directors,screenwriters,techniciansreturntotheINCtoviewthefootage,anddiscusstheirindustryasauniquetestimonialtothecountry,itsstrugglesandwars. Today,thePeople'sRepublicofMozambiqueissimplytheRepublicofMozambique.SamoraMachel'sdeathmarkedtheendofMozambique'scinema(thecurrentgovernmentpreferstelevision).ThereisnothingleftoftheINC.Theforgottenimagesthatcapturedthefirstelevenyearsofindependency-theyearsofthesocialistrevolution-arerotting,takingwiththemboththehistoryofaperiod,andthehistoryofhope. "ThebestfilmI'veseenthisyear!Oneofthefinestfilmsaboutfilmmakingevercreated.Rarelyhasanyfilm-relateddocumentarypresenteditssubjectwithsuchskill,maturityandintelligence...Theinterviewsareprofessional,cogentandinvigorating,astheNICveteransrecallwithbittersweetfondnesstheinitialpromiseandencroachingdisappointmentatthegreatexperimentwhichneverquiteworked.TheKuxaKanemanewsreelsareliterallyburiedcinematicgems,regardlessofideology...MargaridaCardosoapproachessubjectswithintellectualism,objectivityandprofessionalism.Afilmofgreatpowerandvision!Thosewhofindthisfilmwillcomeawayenrichedbywhattheyfind."—FilmThreat "HIGHLYRECOMMENDED!ThestoryoftheNationalInstituteofCinemaisverymuchametaphorofthehistoryofthePeoples'RepublicofMozambiqueitself.Rapidlypaced,thisenthrallingdocumentaryhaswoventogetherthereminiscencesofthescreenwriters,directors,andsoundengineerswithfootagethatrecountstheexperiencesofthefirsttenyearsofindependence.ThestoryofKUXAKANEMAclearlyhasimplicationsbeyonditsrelationshiptothepoliticalstrugglesofMozambiqueitself.Thefilmraisesimportantquestionsaboutthenatureoffilm,theeffectsoffilmonitsaudience,andtheroleoffilminpoliticalideologyandculturalconflict."—EducationalMediaReviewsOnline…