Suffering and Smiling
Dan Ollman:
Suffering and Smiling (USA, 2006)
60 min. - English
Suffering and Smiling is one of the most impressive portrayals of political activism in music. The documentary is also a fierce cry for help revealing the conditions in Nigeria through the music of Femi and Fela Kuti. After Nigeria became independent and Brits left the country in 1960, the problems increased. Those that were most incapable seized power. Big companies rushed to the country after its rich natural resources and the traditional agriculture was wiped out from the way of oilfields. The beautiful and productive land was drowned in mud and poverty. The country that used to be self-sustaining no longer produces anything but beer, everything else is Western import.
Fela Anikapulo Kuti was a singer and a political activist, who wrote songs about the abuse of his country. Dan Ollman, known also as the director of The Yes Men, depicts the gloomy reality of Nigeria through the story of Fela Kuti and his son Femi. Like the music of Fela and Femi, who has also performed at Ilosaarirock in Joensuu, Suffering and Smiling is happy on the surface, but angry underneath, demanding justice. The film directly accuses the Western countries for destroying Nigeria. It’s the duty of every Western citizen to see this film and answer to the accusations.
Director Dan Ollman present for Q&A after the screenings.
—
Dan Ollman is director and producer from USA. He is especially known for the documentary film The Yes Men.
