Bridging the Western art world and the West African film industry, London-based artist Doug Fishbone cast himself as a local farmer in the film Elmina, a feature-length movie shot and produced in Ghana and starring well-known Ghanaian actors. The over-the-top story is rife with witchcraft, murder, and intrigue as the characters battle against corrupt multinational corporations, but it all pales in comparison to how bizarre (sometimes painfully and sometimes amusingly) it is to watch Fishbone, “a white Jewish guy from New York,” play the lead role without any reference to the overtly odd casting choice. “In a quietly radical way [it] completely overturns conventions of race and representation,” he says. Adding another level of interest is Fishbone’s choice to release the film throughout Africa on DVD–planting one foot in mass-media–as well as to put it on limited display at the Tate Britain and Rokeby galleries in London–planting the other in the more limited art world.
From the little I’ve read I like the politics behind this project, but I’d like to hear what others think of it. Here’s the film’s trailer:
Via [H/T: Nerina Penzhorn]
Saw a link to this post on twitter. Interesting piece. I have not had the pleasure of seeing this film but from the trailer, it appears to be a typical Ghanaian production…yes….complete with the juju (witchcraft) elements.
The difference being the big names in the Ghanaian film industry that feature in this production such as Jude Bucknor and Akofa Edjeani Asiedu. Also, Revele film productions are pretty atypical for the Ghanaian main stream film industry. They tend to be bigger budget, better quality and with more gloss…
Casting Doug Fishbone in the lead actually works really well in getting the film noticed; he clearly stands out and by extension the film stands out. For some reason, I found more curious that the film was set in Elmina rather than somewhere in the Western region of Ghana where the oil is actually being drilled offshore in commercial quantities. Perhaps it was a matter of convenience.
Releasing the film via DVD throughout Africa is a fascinating move. Clearly Fishbone wants to get the film’s message (whatever that maybe) across to an Africa-wide audience.