Abouna (DVD)
APPROX. 84 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 2002 - MPA RATING: NR
" Haroun's French training shines through as "Abouna" reminded me of Francois Truffaut's "The 400 Blows" with a little bit of Satyajit Ray's "Aparajito" thrown in for good measure.
Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more.
I should also note that the cinematography and art direction are superb. Haroun not only captures the exquisite African landscape, but finds ways to make the humble homes and modern cities look just as good. There are also quite a few John Ford-style shots of someone standing silhouetted in a doorway, the whole world just outside. These, along with many long shots bring a heartbreaking realization of just how small these people are.
VIDEO:
The picture is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The picture is clean and nearly flawless. The colors are vibrant and do the beautiful cinematography justice.
AUDIO:
The audio is presented in two tracks, Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1. Both come in crisp and clear. More than satisfactory for this dialogue heavy film.
EXTRAS:
Extras include an interview with writer/director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun that runs about 22 minutes.
Plus, two short film by Haroun. They are "Goi Goi" about a husband and his adulterous wife and "B400" about a little girl locked out of her home.
You'll also get the usual liner notes and theatrical trailer, common with most Home Vision releases.
FILM VALUE:
Despite it's slow pace, I was never bored once while watching "Abouna." What you get is a poetic and touching tale about a boy coming-of-age. Fans of Italian Neorealism will also find familiar themes and traits. If you're looking to check out more African films, I'd recommend Ousmane Sembene's "Xala" and "Moolaade", along with Jean Rouch's "Jaguar."
Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more.
Learn more about our rating system »
