Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Phenomenal Accomplishment, June 16, 2002
First, you should know that the original reels of this film were destroyed in a 1995 house fire, so you'll never see it on the large screen again. Get this video NOW! As for the story, it's a wonderful piece of storytelling that is occasionally marred by shallow characteristics (e.g., the mulatto son / "traitor"). However, the big win is in the cast's ability to evoke real emotion, tension and even joy from the audience. I've seen this on the big screen - when Gerima's family was driving it from city to city holding impromptu screenings. And I've seen it repeatedly on VHS. It never fails to amaze me and inspire dialogue among the people I'm forcing to view it. I suggest this film be viewed as part of an unintended trilogy in this order: 1) The Last Supper (the Cuban film by T.G. Alea, not the Christian hollywood piece), 2) Sankofa, 3) Quilombo. These three complement each other nicely in the context of slavery and rebellion and freedom. A fundamentally "African in the Americas" story that never tires from treatment.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What Sankofa means, May 8, 2005
This movie deals with with being true to one's past. Sankofa means something like:"you must remember your past in order to move ahead", in Yoruba.
The hero of the movie is an African American woman who models near an ancient slave castle in West Africa. She does not think of herself as African, until she goes back in time, joins the slaves in the fortress, and is shipped to the sugar plantations in America. Her spiritual freedom comes only after she becomes trully African again.
In todays "globalized" world, national affinities and racial identifications are being questioned, challenged, and reshaped. Haile Gerima, the Ethiopian director of this film (see also - "Adwa") has a definite nationalist message - African Nationalism. His message is delivered very forcefully in this highly original and entertaining movie - HIGHLY recommanded.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sankofa, The true story of the Middle Passage, April 24, 2000
This review is from: Sankofa [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This film was well documented and produced by Haile Gerima. He traveled intensively through the Continent of Africa and researched African slave and maroon documents for over 20 years to make this graphical true story of the Middle Passage. I felt very emotional concerning the mistreatment of the slave women and felt proud of the maroons who fought back to regain their freedom. This is an excellent video and should be shown to children and adults of every cultural background. This tape can be ordered from Cultural Communications and Productions in Atlanta by calling 800-874-1023. Their address is 2258 Cascade Road S.W. Atlanta, Ga 30311
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