Multimedia Collection
The Forest (Le Sílence de la Forêt)
DVD
93 min
2003
PN1997 .S554 2003 DVD
In a fascinating twist on the old story of Westerner's encounters with "exotic" African cultures, Le silence de la forêt focuses instead on what happens when a European-educated African interacts with the mythic rainforest people incorrectly and perjoratively known as "pygmies." (They would more accurately be called the Biaka.) It is about the difficulty for even the most well-intentioned person to know and respect the "other."
The film's protagonist Gonaba, unlike many Africans educated in Europe, decides to return to his homeland. He is full of ideas for fulfilling the promises of independence. The film fast forwards ten years to a disillusioned Gonaba, now an ineffectual education funtionary hamstrung by corrupt government superiors who mimic the ways of the former colonialists and mistreat the Biaka. Seduced by his own romantic notions about them, Gonaba goes to live with the Biaka hoping that, unlike those in "modern" society, they still have their integrity intact. At the same time, Gonaba tries to inculcate them with the best of what he has imbibed from his Western education. But the Biaka are quite satisfied with their hunter-gatherer way of life and the clash in cultures leads to an inevitable conflict.
This Pan-African production features the haunting musical sounds of the Biaka as well as the contemporary score of Manu Dibango. The gorgeous cinematography takes full advantage of the lush Central African rainforest.
In Diaka, French and Sango with English subtitles.
Distributed by California Newsreel (www.newsreel.org).
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