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A Spotlight on African Cinema: Hyenas

7 Oct
Image from: Kanopy.com

Kanopy is an excellent platform to check out movies from all over the world. One fantastic film I discovered recently was the Senegalese movie “Hyenas” from 1992. It is based on the play “The Visit” by Swiss playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt and directed by the highly-acclaimed Djibril Diop Mambéty.

In the movie, a woman named Ramatou returns to her home village of Colobane, where she had been banished 30 years earlier for having gotten pregnant out of wedlock. Colobane is now a very impoverished place and upon hearing of Ramatou’s return, the people of Colobane feel hopeful that she will help them. They have heard that she has become “richer than the World Bank.” But Ramatou only has one thing on her mind – she wants revenge on the man who impregnated her and refused to accept their child, forcing her to be ostracized and having to leave the village into a life of unknowable hardships.

The cinematography is wonderful, there are several breathtaking shots, and the music that plays throughout the film is superb. The themes of the movie are extremely thought-provoking, and there are no easy answers.

When people think of world cinema, many think of Europe and nowadays, Asia. But the continent of Africa has a lot to offer, too. Ignoring African cinema is ignoring wonderful gems like this film.

Written by:
Sam Evaristo
Circulation Assistant
Grand St. Branch

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A Chilling Thriller: The Sundown Motel

19 Aug

While we all try to survive the summer staying cool, especially during this unusual time, many of us may find different ways to get that much needed chill. For some, it’ll be enjoying breeze of their air conditioner and for others, it’s the chill that comes with a good horror story. A good ghost story knows when do deliver just the right amount of chill to the reader and still deliver a tale of terror. This is where The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James comes in. 

We have two different narratives set in two different time periods, each one centering around one particular building, the book’s namesake, The Sun Down Motel. Both of these narratives have strings that tie them together. First we have Viv Delaney, in 1982, who takes a job at the Sun Down after leaving home; she begins to look into a series of murders following the discovery of the motel’s haunted secrets. Second, we have Carly Kirk, in 2017, who is investigating the disappearance of her Aunt Viv, whose last known location was the Sun Down Motel. 

The narrative story telling for both of these parts is done well, both women have their own distinct voices while also having the similarity that ties them together as family. While that aspect of the story shines, there are some parts of the tail horror fans may find disappointing. We get only some parts with the actual ghosts haunting the motel, with other plot threads that just seem to be there rather than actually go anywhere and a good chunk of the ending that happens off screen instead of the characters actually being present for. The rest of the ending feels rushed and makes you wonder if the author had missed a deadline or two. Overall, while an excellent thriller, it lacks in the spooks department and may not be the story horror fans are looking for. If you are someone who enjoys a good thriller, this one may be for you.

Written By:
Lauren Lapinski
Circulation Assistant

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