Continuing this “archaeological dig” into Med Hondo’s oeuvre as international restorations and retrospectives of his work (see thread below) address past distribution and accessibility challenges, acknowledging his contributions to global cinema…
Hondo’s LES BICOTS-NÈGRES, VOS VOISINS (ARABS AND NIGGERS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, 1974) stands as a pivotal work within African cinemas, for its influence on the narrative and thematic exploration of postcolonial themes.
Hondo’s first film in color (and his second feature) addresses the racism, post-colonialism, and identity crises facing African immigrants in France with frankness and depth.
As if the title wasn’t provocative enough, memorable is the film’s opening – an audacious 20-minute monologue wherein a character directly addresses the audience on, broadly, the state of African cinemas at the time (1974; although some relevance remains).
It sets the stage for the bold strokes that follow those opening minutes, challenging the audience to reconsider their understanding of cinema’s role in reflecting and critiquing dominant ideologies. LES BICOTS-NÈGRES, VOS VOISINS remains intellectually stimulating and relevant.
The 20-minute opening monologue is embedded here. It’s in French minus subtitles.
So here’s a translation, shortened and edited for clarity.
Brothers and sisters, I come to you today to talk about cinema. Cinema is a powerful tool that can be used to educate, entertain, and inform. It can also be used to manipulate and control.
For too long, cinema in Africa has been controlled by outsiders. We have been fed a diet of films that reflect the values and cultures of other countries. These films have often portrayed us in a negative light, as savages or buffoons.
It is time for us to take control of our own cinema. We need to create films that tell our own stories and reflect our own realities.
We need to use cinema to educate ourselves and our people, to entertain ourselves, and to fight for our liberation. The current state of cinema in Africa is not good.
The vast majority of films shown in Africa are made by foreigners. These films often portray Africa and its people in a negative light. They reinforce stereotypes and promote negative values.
There are a few African filmmakers who are making films that challenge the status quo. However, these films are often difficult to find and distribute. We need to create a national cinema that reflects our own values and cultures.
This cinema should be used to educate, entertain, and inform our people. It should be used to fight for our liberation.
There are a number of things we can do to create a national cinema. We need to:
Nationalize the film industry. This would give us control over the production and distribution of films.
Support African filmmakers. We need to provide financial and logistical support to African filmmakers who are making films that challenge the status quo.
Educate our people about cinema, especially our cinema. We need to teach our people about the history and importance of cinema. We need to show them that cinema is a tool that can be used for their own benefit.
The creation of a national cinema is a necessary step in the fight for our liberation.
Cinema is a powerful tool that can be used to educate, entertain, and inform. It can also be used to manipulate and control.
We need to use cinema to tell our own stories and reflect our own realities.
We need to use cinema to educate ourselves and our people, to entertain ourselves, and to fight for our liberation.
Thank you.