DIRECTOR: ENAH JOHNSCOTT
STARRING: SYNDY EMADE, N.R. SEEHOFER, MALVIS-ANN MOHVU, MBENG LILIAN, CHIDI MOKEME
RUNNING TIME: 2 HRS 7 MINUTES
Kizito, a self righteous, legalist preacher is mandated to take a month soul winning trip to Moboko, a dreaded and godless ghetto, to validate his eligibility for ordination. He is rescued and aided by an infamous prostitute, Bisona, who houses him for as long as he carries his assignment.
STARRING: SYNDY EMADE, N.R. SEEHOFER, MALVIS-ANN MOHVU, MBENG LILIAN, CHIDI MOKEME
RUNNING TIME: 2 HRS 7 MINUTES
Kizito, a self righteous, legalist preacher is mandated to take a month soul winning trip to Moboko, a dreaded and godless ghetto, to validate his eligibility for ordination. He is rescued and aided by an infamous prostitute, Bisona, who houses him for as long as he carries his assignment.
FILM REVIEW:
(This review contains spoilers.)
“Do you know what they go through or how they feed?”
Half Heaven is the International Feature submission for Cameroon. Since 2017, the country has been engulfed by a deadly conflict. It’s rooted in the colonization of Cameroon by both the French and British governments, and thus the two languages that come with it: French and English. In parts of the country, gangsters have overtaken villages and created divisions amongst the citizens. This overwhelming darkness has taken over and with that the light amongst so many people.
The film takes place in Victoria, close to Limbe. Kizito is a preacher, an evangelist, who spreads the word of God to those who don’t believe in Christ. Raised in an orphanage without ever knowing his parents, Kizito is extremely devoted to his religion, never faltering from what he believes in, including avoiding pre-marital sex, smoking, drinking and anything that he considers to be sinful. His community loves him, praising him for all the good that he’s doing amongst his peers. But, because of all this adoration, the head pastor is worried that his position as the head of the Church might be in jeopardy.
Kizito’s goal is to get ordained this year and in order to be eligible, he must accomplish an apostolic mission for a month by heading to an outside village around Cameroon. His sole goal is to convert at least one individual. In retaliation though, the pastor decides to send him to Mboko, a dreaded and godless ghetto, where crime and poverty is prevalent. Upon arriving to this town, Kizitio is robbed and stripped of all his belongings. Lost and with nowhere to go, he ends up in a brothel where he meets Bisona, a highly regarded prostitute who invites him to stay at her place to keep safe. Reluctant at first, but knowing that it’s his only option, he slowly begins his life changing mission with the help of a woman he least expected to help him in his journey for enlightening.
Human brains are wired to make automatic judgements of others so that we can move through the world without spending much time or energy with everything that we see. We have the innate urge to be right, to be better, to be superior. Judging is simply our attempt to create a hierarchy of better than and less than, and to define worth to everyone and everything that we meet. Understanding someone requires deep thinking, patience, compassion and an open mind. The film challenges preconceived notions, encourages open-mindedness and explores the unifying thread of humanity that transcends borders, beliefs and cultural barriers. It’s about empathy. It's about evolving. It's about growing.
Is it easier to runaway from darkness or to turn on the light? Likewise, we can learn to align with only the thoughts that come from heaven. And to that degree, we will be living more in half heaven than in half hell.
REVIEW: B-
(This review contains spoilers.)
“Do you know what they go through or how they feed?”
Half Heaven is the International Feature submission for Cameroon. Since 2017, the country has been engulfed by a deadly conflict. It’s rooted in the colonization of Cameroon by both the French and British governments, and thus the two languages that come with it: French and English. In parts of the country, gangsters have overtaken villages and created divisions amongst the citizens. This overwhelming darkness has taken over and with that the light amongst so many people.
The film takes place in Victoria, close to Limbe. Kizito is a preacher, an evangelist, who spreads the word of God to those who don’t believe in Christ. Raised in an orphanage without ever knowing his parents, Kizito is extremely devoted to his religion, never faltering from what he believes in, including avoiding pre-marital sex, smoking, drinking and anything that he considers to be sinful. His community loves him, praising him for all the good that he’s doing amongst his peers. But, because of all this adoration, the head pastor is worried that his position as the head of the Church might be in jeopardy.
Kizito’s goal is to get ordained this year and in order to be eligible, he must accomplish an apostolic mission for a month by heading to an outside village around Cameroon. His sole goal is to convert at least one individual. In retaliation though, the pastor decides to send him to Mboko, a dreaded and godless ghetto, where crime and poverty is prevalent. Upon arriving to this town, Kizitio is robbed and stripped of all his belongings. Lost and with nowhere to go, he ends up in a brothel where he meets Bisona, a highly regarded prostitute who invites him to stay at her place to keep safe. Reluctant at first, but knowing that it’s his only option, he slowly begins his life changing mission with the help of a woman he least expected to help him in his journey for enlightening.
Human brains are wired to make automatic judgements of others so that we can move through the world without spending much time or energy with everything that we see. We have the innate urge to be right, to be better, to be superior. Judging is simply our attempt to create a hierarchy of better than and less than, and to define worth to everyone and everything that we meet. Understanding someone requires deep thinking, patience, compassion and an open mind. The film challenges preconceived notions, encourages open-mindedness and explores the unifying thread of humanity that transcends borders, beliefs and cultural barriers. It’s about empathy. It's about evolving. It's about growing.
Is it easier to runaway from darkness or to turn on the light? Likewise, we can learn to align with only the thoughts that come from heaven. And to that degree, we will be living more in half heaven than in half hell.
REVIEW: B-
