Makala

Name: Makala
Genre: Documentary
Released: August 24, 2018
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Kabwita Kasongo, Lydie Kasongo

2018

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Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

Les Films du Losange | Release Date: August 24, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Kabwita Kasongo, Lydie Kasongo

Summary: Makala (Swahili for "charcoal"), the new documentary by Emmanuel Gras, is a powerful testament to one man's commitment to his family, and his endurance in working to provide them with a brighter future. Kasongo, a 28-year-old man living in Congo with his wife and daughters, dreams of purchasing a plot of land on which to build his family aMakala (Swahili for "charcoal"), the new documentary by Emmanuel Gras, is a powerful testament to one man's commitment to his family, and his endurance in working to provide them with a brighter future. Kasongo, a 28-year-old man living in Congo with his wife and daughters, dreams of purchasing a plot of land on which to build his family a home. He sees his opportunity to earn money by selling charcoal, culled from the ashes of a mighty hardwood tree that he has felled and baked in an earthen oven. Loading up the bags of charcoal onto the back of his bicycle, Kasongo sets off on a daunting journey – up steep hills and across treacherous roads – to sell the charcoal at market.… Expand

Director: Emmanuel Gras

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 96 min

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Nick Allen

Aug 24, 2018

The power in this story from comes from its very distilled manner: it tells a timeless story about hard work by completely immersing us in the steps of process, focusing on an act of incredible physical commitment. Read full review

Tim Grierson

Aug 23, 2018

The documentary’s so simple it feels profound without ever really trying. Read full review

Maggie Lee

Aug 23, 2018

French helmer-lenser Emmanuel Gras’ camera embraces the subject’s every move with such rapt intimacy and cinematic poetry it’s easy to forget this is not a fictional drama. Read full review

Sarah Ward

May 28, 2017

Makala takes the observational approach to the hardships of Congolese life, charting a tough but insightful journey. Read full review

IndieWire Michael Nordine

May 27, 2017

There’s a fine line between watching someone toil and feeling as though you’re toiling yourself, of course, and “Makala” doesn’t always land on the right side of it. It can be edifying at times to watch this, as the film is clearly a labor of love — even if the actual work depicted is not. Read full review

Boyd van Hoeij

May 28, 2017

The film was shot chronologically and this is clear in the increasing fluidity of Gras’ camerawork, which is less and less searching the closer they get to the city. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Aug 23, 2018

It is a sad and lonely world, sympathetically captured, beautifully photographed. Read full review

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