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Flame (1996 film)

Flame is a controversial 1996 war film directed by Ingrid Sinclair,[1] produced by Joel Phiri and Simon Bright,[2] and stars Marian Kunonga and Ulla Mahaka.[3] It was the first Zimbabwean film, since independence, to be set in the Rhodesian Bush War. It served as a tribute to the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army's many female guerrillas.[1]

Flame
Directed byIngrid Sinclair
Produced byJoel Phiri
Simon Bright
StarringMarian Kunonga
Ulla Mahaka
Distributed byCalifornia Newsreel
Running time
85 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Plot edit

At the height of the Rhodesian Bush War, Florence, an impulsive teenage peasant girl from the Mashonaland countryside, decides to run away and join the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) after her father is detained by the Rhodesian Security Forces. She is joined on her journey by her friend, Nyasha; together, the duo trek across the border to a ZANLA training camp in neighbouring Mozambique. While undergoing guerrilla training, the girls adopt new revolutionary identities: Nyasha chooses the nom de guerre "Liberty", signifying her desire for independence, while Florence brands herself "Flame" to represent her passionate nature.

Flame becomes pregnant after being raped by Comrade Che, an unscrupulous ZANLA political commissar. Although initially devastated, she reconciles herself to raising her infant son in the camp. Flame subsequently survives a Rhodesian air strike that kills both Che and their child. Deciding that she has nothing to live for but the war effort, she throws herself into her training and soon distinguishes herself in several ZANLA raids targeting infrastructure and commercial farms.

The end of the war and the election of Robert Mugabe in 1980 proves bittersweet for Flame, who finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. Many unemployed ZANLA veterans, including Flame and her new husband, feel disillusioned and neglected by Mugabe's government. Flame subsequently relocates to Harare, where Liberty has used her background as an intelligence officer to secure a lucrative administrative post. The reunion between the two is somewhat tense, as Flame wants financial assistance but Liberty no longer believes in the collectivist lifestyle of mutual support and shared purpose once pursued in the guerrilla camps.

Five years after the war's end, Flame and Liberty attend a Heroes' Day party in an increasingly authoritarian and corrupt Zimbabwe. They continue to greet passers by with the old pan-African slogan, "A luta continua" ("the struggle continues") as the film closes.

Cast edit

  • Marian Kunonga as Florence (Flame)[3]
  • Ulla Mahaka as Nyasha (Liberty)[3]
  • Robina Chombe as Charity[4]
  • Dick Chingaira as Rapo[4]

Production edit

The film was shot in Zimbabwe.[5]

Reception edit

Flame was selected for the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.[6]

Awards edit

Flame received several awards in the following film festivals:[2]

Southern African Film Festival, Harare

  • OAU Prize - Best Film
  • Jury Award - Best Actress
  • Jury Award - Best Director

Journées de Cinématographe de Carthage, Tunis

  • Special Jury Prize - Best Film

Amiens Film Festival, Amiens, France

  • Prix du Public - Best Film
  • Palmares du Jury - Best Actress
  • OCIC Award - Best Film

M-Net Film Awards, Cape Town

  • Best Music

The Annonay International Film Festival, France

  • The Grand Prix - Best Film

The Milan African Film Festival

  • Premio del Pubblico (The Public Prize)
  • Concorso Lungometraggi - Migliore Opera Prima (Best First Film)

The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, New York

  • The Nestor Almendros Prize

The International Women's Film Festival in Turenne (1998)

  • The Jury Award for Best Film
  • The Youth Award for Best Feature Film

In Zimbabwe edit

After being shown to the Veterans Association of Zimbabwe, the veterans claimed it was "full of lies" and were angered by the rape scene. The film was confiscated by police for being "subversive and pornographic", but was returned to the producers after a worldwide campaign. Ultimately, it passed Zimbabwean censors and became a box office success and the number one film of the year in Zimbabwe.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Flame". California Newsreel. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Flame". Zimmedia. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Flame (1998)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  4. ^ a b Films Distribution
  5. ^ Director
  6. ^ a b "Flame: Notes for Viewing the Film". California Newsreel. Retrieved 13 April 2011.

External links edit

flame, 1996, film, flame, controversial, 1996, film, directed, ingrid, sinclair, produced, joel, phiri, simon, bright, stars, marian, kunonga, ulla, mahaka, first, zimbabwean, film, since, independence, rhodesian, bush, served, tribute, zimbabwe, african, nati. Flame is a controversial 1996 war film directed by Ingrid Sinclair 1 produced by Joel Phiri and Simon Bright 2 and stars Marian Kunonga and Ulla Mahaka 3 It was the first Zimbabwean film since independence to be set in the Rhodesian Bush War It served as a tribute to the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army s many female guerrillas 1 FlameDirected byIngrid SinclairProduced byJoel PhiriSimon BrightStarringMarian KunongaUlla MahakaDistributed byCalifornia NewsreelRunning time85 minutesLanguageEnglish Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 4 1 Awards 4 2 In Zimbabwe 5 References 6 External linksPlot editAt the height of the Rhodesian Bush War Florence an impulsive teenage peasant girl from the Mashonaland countryside decides to run away and join the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army ZANLA after her father is detained by the Rhodesian Security Forces She is joined on her journey by her friend Nyasha together the duo trek across the border to a ZANLA training camp in neighbouring Mozambique While undergoing guerrilla training the girls adopt new revolutionary identities Nyasha chooses the nom de guerre Liberty signifying her desire for independence while Florence brands herself Flame to represent her passionate nature Flame becomes pregnant after being raped by Comrade Che an unscrupulous ZANLA political commissar Although initially devastated she reconciles herself to raising her infant son in the camp Flame subsequently survives a Rhodesian air strike that kills both Che and their child Deciding that she has nothing to live for but the war effort she throws herself into her training and soon distinguishes herself in several ZANLA raids targeting infrastructure and commercial farms The end of the war and the election of Robert Mugabe in 1980 proves bittersweet for Flame who finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life Many unemployed ZANLA veterans including Flame and her new husband feel disillusioned and neglected by Mugabe s government Flame subsequently relocates to Harare where Liberty has used her background as an intelligence officer to secure a lucrative administrative post The reunion between the two is somewhat tense as Flame wants financial assistance but Liberty no longer believes in the collectivist lifestyle of mutual support and shared purpose once pursued in the guerrilla camps Five years after the war s end Flame and Liberty attend a Heroes Day party in an increasingly authoritarian and corrupt Zimbabwe They continue to greet passers by with the old pan African slogan A luta continua the struggle continues as the film closes Cast editMarian Kunonga as Florence Flame 3 Ulla Mahaka as Nyasha Liberty 3 Robina Chombe as Charity 4 Dick Chingaira as Rapo 4 Production editThe film was shot in Zimbabwe 5 Reception editFlame was selected for the 1996 Cannes Film Festival 6 Awards edit Flame received several awards in the following film festivals 2 Southern African Film Festival Harare OAU Prize Best Film Jury Award Best Actress Jury Award Best DirectorJournees de Cinematographe de Carthage Tunis Special Jury Prize Best FilmAmiens Film Festival Amiens France Prix du Public Best Film Palmares du Jury Best Actress OCIC Award Best FilmM Net Film Awards Cape Town Best MusicThe Annonay International Film Festival France The Grand Prix Best FilmThe Milan African Film Festival Premio del Pubblico The Public Prize Concorso Lungometraggi Migliore Opera Prima Best First Film The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival New York The Nestor Almendros PrizeThe International Women s Film Festival in Turenne 1998 The Jury Award for Best Film The Youth Award for Best Feature FilmIn Zimbabwe edit After being shown to the Veterans Association of Zimbabwe the veterans claimed it was full of lies and were angered by the rape scene The film was confiscated by police for being subversive and pornographic but was returned to the producers after a worldwide campaign Ultimately it passed Zimbabwean censors and became a box office success and the number one film of the year in Zimbabwe 6 References edit a b Flame California Newsreel Retrieved 13 April 2011 a b Flame Zimmedia Retrieved 13 April 2011 a b c Flame 1998 IMDb Retrieved 13 April 2011 a b Films Distribution Director a b Flame Notes for Viewing the Film California Newsreel Retrieved 13 April 2011 External links editFlame at the Internet Movie Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flame 1996 film amp oldid 1190940470, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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