In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Lusophone Africa from Portuguese control in 1975, the Cinematheque will present two contemporary Portuguese language movies from Angola. The two spirited and entertaining features, Our Lady of the Chinese Shop and Air Conditioner, were produced by a collective of filmmakers known as Geração 80, and the movies probe deeply, and provocatively into the social, political, and economic structures of Angola. The series is presented with the support of African Studies and Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies (LACIS) at UW-Madison.
SAT., 2/15, 7 p.m.
OUR LADY OF THE CHINESE SHOP
Angola | 2022 | DCP | 99 min. | Portuguese with English subtitles
Director: Ery Claver
Cast: Cláudia Púcuta, David Caracol, Willi Ribeiro
A mass-produced Virgin Mary doll, imported by a Chinese merchant, profoundly impacts the lives of three residents of Luanda, Angola. Through the stories of a grieving mother, a man searching for his missing dog, and a barber turned cult leader, the film explores the doll’s unsettling influence on the postcolonial city. Claver’s debut is a haunting meditation on faith, commerce, and the complexities of modern Angola. Presented with the support of UW-Madison’s African Studies Program and Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS).
SAT., 2/22, 7 p.m.
AIR CONDITIONER
Angola | 2020 | DCP | 73 min. | Portuguese with English subtitles
Director: Fradique
Cast: José Kiteculo, David Caracol, Filomena Manuel
Chaos erupts in a sweltering Luanda when air-conditioning units inexplicably detach from walls and plummet to the ground, causing mayhem and mystery. Amid this bizarre crisis, the easygoing security guard Matacedo embarks on a surreal quest to retrieve a broken A/C unit for a demanding boss, encountering quirky characters and learning to communicate telepathically along the way. Anchored in the vibrant everyday life of the city, director Fradique’s film poetically blends supernatural oddities with mundanity. The original jazz score is by internationally-renowned musician Aline Frazao. Presented with the support of UW-Madison’s African Studies Program and Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS).