Escape from Luanda is an inspiring uplifting story about students in post civil war Angola attempting to improve their lives through music in the nation's capital city. The film primarily follows three individuals, Alfredo an aspiring international pianist, Joana a beautiful single young mother of two and Domingas a wife and mother who ignores threats from her family as she asserts her independence, to study music which she says has saved her life. Alfredo struggles through Moonlight Sonata on a badly tuned and broken down Yamaha console piano. Joana's ambition is to be the first notable female African percussionist while Domingas finds inner happiness and personal expression through song.
Auteur Phil Grabsky who has also filmed and directed In Search of Mozart and In Search of Beethoven reminds us of the universality of music, its ability to shape lives, its ability to heal and its ability to offer comfort and hope. In Escape from Luanda Grabsky is perhaps not as visually artistic as he is capable of being, but he uses his signature up close and personal style to affect an intimate portrait of his subjects. Joana is so comfortable in front of the camera that you cannot help feeling that you are right there with her sharing her most personal thoughts. The filmmaker skillfully weaves a larger picture of Angola, particularly the chauvinistic culture, and the gulf between rich and poor, without being overtly controversial. The end of the film provides some political statistics informing us that the oil rich nation is currently more important to the United States than is Kuwait, and that China is now deriving a significant amount of its petroleum from this country, rich in natural resources.
Shot on video, Escape from Luanda, released by Seventh Art Productions, UK is a seventy-two minute award winning documentary available on DVD with English subtitles. The film meanders at times making you wonder about the destination of this short journey. Ultimately it is unclear exactly what the music students hope to accomplish once they earn their certificate, but they know they must take action to improve their lives and they see this educational opportunity as a way to escape the poverty and desperation of their lives as well as the memories of their recent war torn past. It is unlikely that you will visit Angola anytime soon so this documentary will give you a glimpse into the politically significant African nation. As news bytes and politics swirl about us, we can be reminded of individuals like Joana, Angelo, Domingas and others who are simply trying to survive and improve their lives, outside of but also within the geopolitical storm that shapes the existence of every person on the planet, by aspiring to express themselves in a manner that is universal throughout all human cultures - - music.
Reviewer Reno Lovison provides marketing services including video production in Chicago.
www.renoweb.net
