Creative Week Cape Town

This screening is the second in a series of African Film Nights presented by the African Arts Institute in collaboration with M-Net’s African Film Library.

Nha Fala (My Voice) is a musical offering, from 2004, by French director Flora Gomes from Guinea-Bissau. Gomes, arguably one of the continent’s best directors, was schooled in Cuba and studied film in Havana. Read more about his work at www.africanfilmlibrary.co.za

Before leaving Guinea-Bissau for Europe to pursue her studies, Vita promises her mother that she will never sing. According to a (family) legend if any woman in her family sings, that woman will be cursed and eventually die. In Paris, Vita falls in love with Pierre, a young French musician. Full of joy she lets herself go, and sings.

Vita is horrified by what she has done, but Pierre, overwhelmed by her talent, convinces her to pursue recording. Her record is an overnight hit, but Vita now needs to decide how best to break the news to her family.

The film is 86 minutes long, in Kabuverdianu, French and Portuguese with English subtitles. It stars: Fatou N’Diaye, Jean-Christophe Dolle and Angelo Torres.

It won the following awards:

2002 Amien International Film Festival – Prize of the City of Amiens

2002: Amiens International Film Festival – Signis Award

2002: Venice Film Festival – Laterna Magic Prize

2002: Venice Film Festival – Nominated Golden Lion

2003: FESPACO – Award of the City of Ouagadougo

All screenings starts with a Spier wine tasting and pre-screen discussion at 6.15pm at the Labia Theatre on Orange Street. Tickets are R30. Booking is essential due to the venue’s limited capacity. Book at the Labia at .