50 years ago, on May 25th 1963, 30 of 32 independent African states founded the Organization of African Unity (OAV), and this day was called Africa Day. Let’s review what has happened in Africa in the 50 years since: Apartheid, civil wars, tribal wars, genocide, dictators, child soldiers, violent coups… I can’t find unity. I don’t know how to break it to you, guys, but it seems that your organization hasn’t done such a good job. But then again, I want to see how united you’ll be if the European powers colonize you, draw arbitrary borders, enslave your people and pillage your natural resources. So instead of celebrating an imaginary African unity and some failing organization, today I choose to speak to the people, and plead for it: listen to the nice dentist and unite!. Even though there are many differences between you, you have one common goal: better the life of African people, and that will only be achieved by being united. You have the power - natural resources the rest of the world covets - and the only thing standing between you and a bright future is unity. As we continue to wait and hope for true African Unity, let’s look at some of the great films that this continent has produced:

1. An African Election (2011)

Democracy, we westerners never stop talking about it. When will it arrive in the developing world? we ask constantly. So here it is, in all its glory – depicting the political campaign and elections in Ghana. It’s a different kind of political documentary, it’s not agenda-driven, corruption-exposing or system-fighting, it’s a fly on the wall descriptive film that shows us democracy – African style. With a lot of vibrance, (over) enthusiasm, and mess and confusion. Ultimately, you’ll learn that democracy is the same everywhere – you make a lot of promises but nothing really gets done.

2. A Screaming Man (2010)

This story is set in Chad, about a father who has a good and stable job as a lifeguard at a luxurious hotel. Not only does he get fired and replaced by his son, when the civil war breaks, the rebel forces demand that he come fight with them – and he does not resist. Riddled with guilt, the father goes on a perilous journey to retrieve his son. It’s a sad and bleak film, but one that offers an unfiltered inside perspective into the African situation.

3. Aujourd’hui (2012)

This Senegalese film depicts last day in the life of Satché (Saul Williams), who returns home from America. He goes on an introspective journey through his past, and meets his old friends, his old flame, the wife and children he left behind, and prepares for his expected demise. There seems to be an outbreak of films that deal with the end of the world and how people spend their last moments, but this film does not over-analyze the situation, leaving you with a lot to think about, which is how I like my films.

4. Moolaadé (2004)

Rarely have I seen such a contrast between the subject matter and the mood of a film. This drama from Senegal, but set in Burkina Faso, deals with female circumcision and the fight of one village to end this inhumane tradition. Director Ousmane Sembene has crafted such a touching and understated film that never aims to shock. The matter-of-fact approach, the almost documentary feel is cliché-free, and never gets sappy or too emotional. The power of the film comes from its sincerity.

5.   Ezra (2007)

From one pleasant topic to another – child soldiers. This film by Nigerian born Newton I. Aduaka tells the story of one such child, from his kidnapping by rebel forces, through his brainwashing and the atrocities he committed, up to his arraignment before a tribunal. While there’s no subtlety in this film, the transformation of this child into a killer is an emotional roller coaster, from pity to hate, to sadness… I guess sometimes you don’t need subtext.

6. Tsotsi (2005)

This Oscar Winning crime drama from South Africa shows life in the urban ghetto of Johannesburg. A gang member kills a woman and hijacks her car only to find a baby in it. He starts to care for this infant and gets attached to him. Slowly but surely he begins to appreciate life. But this is not a sentimental film, it’s a pretty bleak film, but its pace and soundtrack will keep you captivated until the end.

7. Under African Skies (2012)

In 1986 Paul Simon released his most successful solo album – Graceland – a fusion of American and South African music styles. The problem was, this was the height of the Apartheid in South Africa, and Paul Simon was accused of breaking the cultural boycott. 25 Years later the legendary singer-songwriter returns to South Africa for a reunion concert, and talks about those turbulent times, along with the African musicians involved and other colleagues. It’s a great film, about friendship, breaking race barriers and music, not exclusively for Paul Simon fans.

8. White Material (2009)

Set in an unnamed African country this French-Cameroonian coproduction tells the story of a white French woman (Isabelle Huppert) caught in the middle of political unrest. Claire Denis, who is known for her special relation to the ‘Motherland’ crafts a sensitive film, that aptly depicts the complex relations between Blacks and Whites.

9. Battle of Algiers (1966)

While there’s a huge difference (and hostility) between black Africa and Arab Africa, their history is not that different. Gillo Pontecorvo’s Masterpiece reconstructs the Algerian War of Independence, their struggle to decolonize from France. It was a revolution that lasted nearly eight bloody years and took the life of some 700,000 people. The film’s strength lies in balanced and matter-of-fact approach, showing atrocities from both sides.

10. Un été à La Goulette (1996)

We’ll end on a bittersweet note – it’s the story of how, long ago, people from different religions, lived together in peace. Sounds like a fantasy, I know. The story takes place during the sixties in Tunisia, where three teenaged best friends - a Muslim, Jewish and Christian – swear to lose their virginity by a certain date. No, this is not American Pie 11, but a touching coming of age story about friendship and community. For me, the message of the film is that whether we like one another or hate one another is all a question of circumstance, so let’s make our circumstance better.

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Technorati Tags: Africa, Africa Day, African Unity, An African Election, A Screaming Man,  Aujourd’hui,  Moolaadé, Ezra, Tsotsti, Under African Skies, Paul Simon, White Material, Battle of Algiers,  Un été à La Goulette, masterpeice, South Africa

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May is the Month of Music in New Zealand. We have also noticed a recent increase in films dealing with music – most notably, Quartet and A Late Quartet (don’t get mixed up between them – one is a feel good comedy and the other an introspective drama.) So we decided to dedicate this post to musical titles. But wait! Europe Day is just around the corner (May 9th), as well as our favorite campy song contest - the Eurovision Song Contest (May 18th.)

So with all due respect to New Zealand, we’re tweaking this post a little bit, and giving our ‘Douze Points’ to the following 10 European musical titles.

Little Voice (1998)
In this bittersweet comedy drama a shy small-town girl with an amazing voice is reluctantly pushed into showbiz by her domineering mother and the mother’s ambitious boyfriend. Michael Caine delivers a brilliant performance as the loathsome scout who pushes Little Voice to her limits.

Io, Don Giovanni (2009)
Everyone knows the great composer Mozart. but what about the people who worked with (and behind) this genius? This film focuses on the Italian lyricist Lorenzo Da Ponte, who collaborated with Mozart and wrote the libretto to the famous opera Don Giovanni. Director Carlos Saura uses a lush, stylized setting to picture the backstage intrigues of the period.

Le Concert (2009)
It’s not often we see a scene of almost 20 minutes of a classical music concert. Just music, nothing else. It happens in this film and unlike what one might think, it is absolutely fascinating and captivating. It may be true that the plot, revolving around a Russian orchestra coming to play in Paris, is a bit soap-opera-ish at times, but this remarkable scene and the likeable characters make this film a very worthy watch.

Vitus (2006)
In this engaging drama from Switzerland, a child prodigy finds a unique way of dealing with being different. Vitus is no normal child; with an IQ of 180, a huge appetite for knowledge, and a preternatural gift for playing the piano, he finds it hard to fit in with his peers. Like many parents of exceptional children, his parents are overbearing and eager to see their child succeed. Vitus feels he needs to find a way to be a child again.

La Vie en Rose (2007)
Marion Cottillard won an Oscar and became known to the American audiences for portraying Edith Piaf in this film. Piaf is a classic story of rising to stardom: born to poverty and having to practice prostitution, she managed to break through and become one of the most acclaimed and successful French chansonniers of all times.

Flamenco (1995)
This beautifully shot documentary deals with a style of music and dance unique to Spain – Flamenco. Using an old railroad station in Seville, fitted with mirrors for the unique setting, Carlos Saura (2nd time in this post) presents us with 300 singers, dancers and musicians. There are guitarists playing moving and mournful solos, women singing gypsy ballads and, of course, floor pounding and straight shouldered dancers who look right into the camera with those dark, smouldering, Spanish eyes. A must-see for flamenco fans.

The Chorus (2004)
The Chorus is an uplifting tale of a masterful teacher who put his heart into his work and changed the lives of his students forever. It takes place in a boarding school for troubled kids which is supervised by a very strict and difficult manager. All this changes when a new teacher arrives and manages to reach out to the children through music.

The Red Shoes (1948)
Honestly, I would not recommend this film to everyone. It is beautifully shot and has great dance sequences, but it was, after all, filmed over 60 years ago and contemporary viewers might find it too slow and overly sentimental. But this restriction vanishes completely if you have any affection or connection to ballet whatsoever, because for us ballet lovers it is simply a masterpiece.

Black Cat White Cat (1998)
Kusturica’s complex, darkly comic film centers around the lives of a handful of gypsies and hustlers living on the Danube river. The story focuses on a small time hustler dealing with a bunch of gangsters, while the unique gypsy music plays a vital part in portraying their lives.

Schultze gets the blues (2003)
A retired miner falls into a boring routine, playing his accordion in a folk band. All of this changes when one day he hears Zydeco on the radio – a Louisianan folk/blues music – and gets instantly smitten. He then decides to travel from Germany to Louisiana to hear his new favorite music in its original habitat.

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Tomorrow, the highly anticipated and much buzzed about remake of the horror cult movie The Evil Dead is being released; but this is not a mere remake, mind you, the film received a surprising gender twist, as Bruce Campbell and his distinctive brand of over acting have been replaced by Jane Levy.

And since tomorrow is also “Fun At Work Day“, what could be more fun than writing a post about how some films and TV series would look like if they’d undergo similar gender bending? Nothing can. So here is what we came up with:

Clueless

Teenage boys are usually portrayed looking for sex in any way imaginable (just think of American Pie and its predecessors). wouldn’t it be nice to see them all caught up in shopping and matchmaking instead of violating innocent pastries? If Jason Biggs had a young brother, it would be perfect.

Fight Club

An offbeat and dark humored satire might just be exactly what Angelina Jolie’s overly serious career needs. She could easily replace Brad Pitt in leading a group of social misfits beating each other for fun, or as a cure for soul crushing social decay. You can even call it “Girl, Disturbing”. The Twist? She’s really Anne Hathaway’s alter ego.

Girls

A series about four twentysomething buddies trying to figure out what being an adult really means may not sound like the most far reaching idea, but it will definitely be hard to imagine them confronting each other so lengthily without having things deteriorating to a fist fight.

Elementary

Sure, the are many films and TV series about male/female crime fighting duos. And yet even in the latest one about the prodigy private detective set in modern day New York, the creators only went half way and gave the gender twist to Watson, the uptight character, while reserving, as usual, the role of the brilliant yet unstable partner for a man. We think it’s time to go all the way and have a keen observing, drug taking clever detective lady with a male sidekick - Just switch between Lucy Liu and Johny Lee Miller.

Downton Abbey

Just imagine a series about an aristocratic family life in early 20th century England, with three brothers trying to find suitable brides while living under the watchful eye of their snobbish, ill tempered and witty grandfather.

Wait… is Ian McKellen available?

Mad Men

In order to put a good gender twist on this Emmy winning series, set in the 60’s, about an office run by womanizing bosses, we would have to place it in a parallel world. However, it would probably be worth it, if only for the chance to see John Hamm perform this French pop classic.

Anna Karenina

While director Joe Wright’s best efforts focus on female protagonists, it would be interesting to see how he would have handled this tragic love story if its concern was an unhappily married man. Our guess: much less chances for a costume design Oscar. Or, even better, we can go the extra mile and make it a drag adaptation, starring Andrew Garfield, since we already know how he looks in a dress.

Arrow

Super heroines are not only extremely scarce, but when they do appear, it’s mostly as a part of an ensemble, and they are never really given a chance to develop or explore the darker side of their personalities. So, what could be better than a presumed dead billionaire heiress trying to right the wronged (preferably without a ridiculous voice over)..? Scarlett Johansson already played the black widow, so being the green arrow isn’t such a stretch.

New Girl

Roommates have always had comic potential, and having an ever optimistic, sometimes clueless young man living with three bantering best friends could definitely work. The only problem? Finding a female equivalent for the term “douchebag”. Michael Cera, are you in?

Evil Dead

While survival in the woods is a time honored horror theme, adding chainsaws to the mix, and putting them in a female lead’s hands is pretty rare; and although the scares and gore seem to be bountiful in this one, we’ll have to wait and see if it will reach the original’s cult status.

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The world of mathematics is as vast as it is complex. Whether you are fascinated by it, or you are completely bored by it, one way or another, there is no denying the impact that such a language had over our world and our perception. From the simplest calculations of quantity measurements, to the strongest computer of our modern time, mathematics has allowed us to explore beyond our own planet, reach out to the moon, and helped us understand simple truths like how to find the volume of a container or the circumference of a circle. It is today, on March 14th, that Pi Day is celebrated (3.14, get it? The number of Pi!) and as it happens every year, people eat pies and contemplate the meaning of the equation and why it is so useful to mankind.

We at Jinni wanted to do something similar by bringing you the most remarkable content that mathematics has to offer in movies & TV (excluding some of the obvious films such as Good Will Hunting and A Beautiful Mind.)

Moneyball (2011)

Whilst conventionally known for it’s baseball theme, mathematics is the key element around which the plot of this movie revolves. Baseball manager Billy Beane goes and does the unthinkable - instead of forming a baseball team of experienced, well-known and famous players, he recruits Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a Yale grad that presents him with the statistics and numbers to create a team of no-names, which on paper has the potential to take the world series.

Proof (2005)

They say that genius and insanity almost go hand in hand, and so is the case with Anthony Hopkins who plays Robert – a genius mathematician that develops a mental illness and eventually dies. His daughter Catherine suspects with great dread that she has inherited his insanity. All the while, one of Robert’s ex-students is eager to go through all of his notebooks to see if he can discover a lost spark of genius, put to paper before he passed away. As it commonly is with dramas, this movie is gloomy and contemplative, trying to crack the mystery of the mind, and the promises its future may hold.

Limitless (2011)

The trigger in this movie is a special laboratory-developed drug, which is said to allow one to access their brain’s lost potential. The day Eddie Morra gets his hand on this special drug, he turns from an everyday bum into a genius in practically every subject he sets his mind to. Starting out as a writer, and finishing his book in only 4 days, Eddie then turns to the world of finance, and develops a special algorithm that allows him to see patterns in buying and selling market shares. In just a matter of days, Eddie rises to the top of the financial world, but not without a cost.

Fermat’s Room (2007)

Four mathematicians are invited by a mysterious host to solve the supposedly greatest enigma that ever was. What they soon come to realize is that the more time it takes them to answer the equations they are given, the smaller the room becomes. While calculating for their lives in a highly tense state, these four strangers do their best to figure out what their host’s motives are in trying to plot such an elaborate murder. If you’re looking for great suspense, this is the right equation for you.

Pi (1998)

You can’t talk Mathematics without discussing acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky’s  first feature film “Pi”, which just by name fits this occasion perfectly. Max Cohen is a computer genius and mathematician whose obsession with numbers is so great, he believes that a pattern emerges in everything, even in nature. Once he focuses his attention on Wall Street and the stock exchange, he soon finds himself being chased by stock traders who crave to acquire his method. At the same time, a fast-talking Hasidic Jew tries to understand number patterns in the Bible and seeks Max’s help in solving the Bible’s long lost mystery.

21 (2008)

Ben Campbell is talented and intelligent. So much so, that he is the top of his class. There is one problem though, he doesn’t have the sufficient tuition money to go to Harvard. An opportunity presents itself to Ben in the form of his unorthodox mathematics teacher, Micky Rosa, who teaches him and a small group of gifted students how to count cards in Blackjack. The group of young people go to Las Vegas every weekend and count their way to riches through gambling, until their plan goes awry. “21” is based on a true story, and is very stylized and suspenseful.

The Number 23 (2008)

Jim Carrey is notorious for his comic skills, but it would appear that all it took was numbers to lure him to the land of mystery. Walter Sparrow’s life is turned upside down in this atmospheric, mind-bending thriller, after he reads a book that seems to be imitating Walter’s life in every detail it presents. It doesn’t take long for Walter to become obsessed with the number 23, finding it everywhere, and in everything. He’s doing his best to uncover the truth behind the mysterious book, trying to understand if it’s all merely a coincidence, or if there is some nefarious darkness with ill intentions looming over his life?

Cube (1997)

Despite being a horror flick, this is a unique film, presenting a very original premise: a group of strangers wake up inside a cube-like structure, not knowing how they got there, or why they’re there; and the biggest problem they face, is that certain rooms include life threatening deathtraps. With the help of an intelligent student, they find a way to calculate which rooms are booby-trapped and which are safe according to the rooms’ serial numbers.  It’s interesting to see how different room colors create different psychological effects on the characters of the movie, making it as clever as it is intense.

Numb3rs (2005)

Mathematics can be used to catch criminals as well. This TV show revolves around two brothers – one is an FBI investigator and the other is a brilliant university mathematician. Whenever special agent Don has complications with his cases, he calls on his brother Charlie, who uses mathematical patterns to track and narrow down the whereabouts of wanted criminals that are on the run. The show is engaging, clever, suspenseful and basically has everything you need from a successful investigation show.

The Oxford Murders (2008)

Do I see a pattern here? Correct. Much alike the previous title, in this movie a math student and his professor work together to try and solve a series of murders that seem to be linked with mathematical symbols. Both Elijah Wood and John Hurt contemplate over who done it, and try to break through the riddles and clues that are presented to them. Notably so, unlike the previous title, it isn’t common these days to come across an amateur detective, which is a theme that has become more scarce over time, and for that, I take off my hat in honor of it.

To conclude, mathematics is a universal language, and it is practical as it is philosophical. As I stated at the beginning of this post, it can be boring and I’d believe that’s part of the reason why there isn’t a great deal of content in our catalog that deals with mathematics (only 102 titles). However, the small amount that does exist is very thought provoking and insightful, and is able to create very gripping and engaging topics. It is something that we take for granted on a daily basis and I recommend for everyone to check it out, you might end up having some fun.

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Technorati Tags: mathematics, Pi Day, 3.14, Moneyball, Billy Beane, Peter Brand, Jonah Hill, Yale, statistics, numbers, Proof, Anthony Hopkins, Limitless, Eddie Morra, Fermat’s Room, Pi, Darren Aronofsky, Wall Street, 21, Ben Campbell, Harvard, Micky Rosa, Blackjack, Las Vegas, The Number 23, Jim Carrey, Walter Sparrow, Cube, Numb3rs, The Oxford Murders, Elijah Wood, John Hurt

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So, the Awards season has come and gone, leaving us with some smiling faces holding golden statues; and now it’s time for a quick recap of the major categories and trends.

Best Film - “Don’t Go Fully Period”

Dealing with state affairs and basing your film on a true story are good starting points on your journey towards the coveted golden bald man, but know this: you better not stray too far into history, since in the last ten years, no best picture winner took place in a time earlier than the  20th century. covering these three points and adding a topical touch by dealing with Iran, it’s no wonder Argo took home the big prize (portraying Hollywood producers as life savers probably didn’t hurt either.)

Best Director – 3D, Done Right, For A Change

Granted, Life of Pi isn’t as groundbreaking as Avatar, nevertheless, it is the first 3D film to win an Oscar for direction, and a much deserved one, since Ang Lee and cinematographer Claudio Miranda (who also won an Oscar for his work on this film) managed to create one of the most elegant and visually mesmerizing films in recent memory.

Best Screenplay – Festive Fifty

Quentin Tarantino celebrates half a century next month, so the academy for motion picture arts and sciences decided to give him an early birthday gift for Django Unchained’s controversial screenplay. The fact that it’s also his biggest blockbuster to date probably helped as well.

Best Actor - The Sure Thing

In the words of the great, incarcerated Wesley Snipes

Just replace “roulette” with “Oscar bets” and “black” with “Daniel Day-Lewis with facial hair”, this time, taking the prize ,as expected, for portraying the United States’ most beloved head of state.

Best Actress - Life imitates Art (or at least imitates SNL)

It’s almost impossible to win when you’re not acting in a serious film, and we’re not talking just about gross out comedies, even semi serious films are usually shunned. However, playing a troubled, or better yet, mentally unstable character can greatly improve your chances. No wonder Jennifer Lawrence was so convincing in this Saturday Night Live sketch.

Best Supporting Actress - The Other Sure Thing

The old age maxim, that in order to win an Oscar for acting you’ve got to play a suffering character (and preferably while degrading your physical appearance,) worked well for Anne Hathaway. In fact, it looked so calculated and worked so well it even spawned a pre-Oscar parody (and hats off to you, Emma Fitzpatrick.)

Best Supporting Actor – A New Winning Formula

Christoph Waltz + Racism = Oscar Winner? Yes, it does sound far fetched, but it has already proven itself three years ago in Inglorious Basterds and again this year in Django Unchained. It looks like the Tarantino/Waltz duo should brush up on their Anti-Samoan racial slur skills for the 2016 Academy Awards. To be honest, how can he lose with such a great theme song (lifted from a little known Spaghetti Western from 1971)?

Best Animated Film – Pixar’s Home Advantage

In what has become an inner Disney Derby between Brave and Wreck-It Ralph, the red headed young heroine had the upper hand, since in the last ten years the only Pixar produced films not to win an Oscar where the mediocre Cars and Cars 2.

Best Documentary – Odd (Sugar) Man Out

Being the only one of the five nominated films to not deal with a social issue, but rather chronicle the quest for finding a presumably dead legendary musician, Searching For Sugar Man won the thing that eluded it’s hero – real time acclaim and recognition.

That’s all for these Oscars, folks; we’ll leave you with this year’s wistful Animated Short winner:

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