Alex Gibney has tackled the problem of power in many of his meditative documentaries, including the Academy award winning Taxi to the Dark Side. His film, Finding Fela, brings the fight to sub-Saharan Africa, and explores the interplay of politics and music in postcolonial Africa. We spoke to him after its debut at the Sydney Film Festival.
Finding Fela
Alex Gibney’s Finding Fela is a film which arcs toward celebration and reverence, but nonetheless maintains the rage at the sociopolitical malaise which gave rise to Kuti’s fury.
Utopia
John Pilger’s searing new documentary is ultimately emotive rather than informational, making the audience understand indigenous Australians not as grim statistics but as a long-suffering collection of individuals crippled by racist policy of the past and present. On this front, he succeeds admirably.
VHS DREAMS
James Hennessy looks back at VHS memories and wonders if the new norm of HD is killing cinematic wonder.