EVERYONE’S CHILD (1996, Zimbabwe, 90 min.),
directed by Tsitsi Dangaremgba,
produced by Jonny Persey,
John Riber,
and Ben Zulu for Media for Development Trust; screenplay by John Riber, Andrew Whaley, and Tsitsi Dangaremgba from the story by Shimmer Chinodya;
cinematography by Patrick Lindsell; music by Keith Farquharson; edited by Louise Riber;
with Nomasa Mlambo
(Tamari),Thulani Sandhla (Itai), Casey Mugabe (Nhamo), Victoria Yuyeqaba
(Norah), Walter Muparutsa (Uncle Ozias),
Elijah Madzikatire (Shaghi),
Nkululeko E. "Chunky" Phiri
(Thabiso), Killness Nyati (Ambuya Matongo),
Peligia Viaji (Ketiwe), Simon Shumba (Pastor Phiri), Peter Kampera (Zato), Angeline Musasiwa (Social Worker).
In English.
Please jot down answers to all the questions, and respond in depth to
three.
1. Discuss the importance of the title in articulating the
central themes of the film.
2. The film basically is set in two locales, the town/village
where Tamari and her family live, and
3. Discuss Itai’s experiences in
town. Does his situation seem
particularly African, or can you see something more universal in it?
4. Tamari is clearly the central character in the film. Discuss her passage from girlhood to womanhood. Does she grow as a person, as a woman? What does she learn?
5. Discuss this film in terms of
generational conflict. What is the point
here?
6. Compare the two men in Tamari’s life, Thabiso and Shaghi.
7. What is the role played by “Ambuya,” the grandmother figure?
8. Discuss the film’s use of music. What are some of the styles that you
notice? How does it contribute to the
overall effect of the film?
9. This is our first film set in an
Anglophone African country this term.
What is that
like? What do you notice about the way people
speak, their intonation patterns?
10. In what ways does the film touch upon
themes that we’ve already encountered this
term? Any additional
ones?
11. Would you call this a universal story, or
one that is fundamentally African? Discuss this idea.
12. Discuss the film’s ending--visuals and
final song. In what ways does it capture the essence of the film’s message?