Cinema of Madagascar
The Cinema of Madagascar refers to the film industry in Madagascar.
The most notable director is Raymond Rajaonarivelo, director of movies such as Quand Les Etoiles Rencontrent La Mer (When the Stars Meet the Sea) and Tabataba (The Spreading of Rumors).[1]
The oldest cinematographic production entirely produced in Madagascar by a Malagasy is a 22 minutes black and white movie entitled Rasalama Martiora (Rasalama, the Martyr). Directed in 1937 by the deacon Philippe Raberojo, it marked the centenary of the death of the Protestant martyr Rafaravavy Rasalama. Philippe Raberojo was the president of an association of French citizens of Malagasy origin, where he had access to a 9,5mm camera. Thus he was able to realise his film. The complete version is lost.[2]
In the following years Madagascar was crisis-shaken by several political overthrows. In 1960 Madagascar regained its independence, but still suffers from political instability. This complicated post-colonial period not only led to the closure or transformation of the country's cinemas into places of religious worship. Also almost the whole film industry was razed to the ground. Till today still there is no public cinema in Madagascar.
The film industry started to recover slowly around the year 2006 also due to the founding of Rencontres du Film Court Madagascar (RFC). Till today the RFC is Madagascar's only Film Festival.
Most Malagasy productions receive no public funding; nevertheless, around 60 short films and 1 or 2 feature films are made each year.[2]
In the Malagasy language, the word “cinema” is translated “Sarimihetsika” which literally means “moving image”.[2]
Films
| Year | Title | Director | Genre | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | L'accident | Benoît Ramampy | Short drama | Won best short film (FESPACO, 1973) | |
| 1974 | Very Remby | Solo Randrasana | Drama | Won Jean Soutter Award (Festival de Dinard, France, 1974) | |
| 1980 | Fitampoha | ||||
| 1984 | Dahalo, Dahalo | Benoît Ramampy | Drama | ||
| 1987 | Ilo Tsy Very [Eternal Blessing] | Ignace Solo Randrasana | Drama | Depicts the 1947 Malagasy Uprising | |
| 1989 | Le Prix de la paix [The Price of Peace] | Abel Rakotozanany and Benoît Ramampy | Short drama | Shown at the African Film Festival in Montreal in 1988 | |
| 1988 | Tabataba [Rumour] | Raymond Rajaonarivelo | Drama | Depicts the 1947 Malagasy Uprising, selected for 1988 Cannes Film Festival, Won Jury award at the Taormina Film Fest (1989), won first feature award at the Carthage Film Festival (1989) | |
| 1989 | Angano... Angano... nouvelles de Madagascar | Marie-Clémence Paes, César Paes | Documentary |
Won awards at the Festival dei Popoli, Cinéma du Réel, and Vues d’Afrique | |
| 1996 | Quand les étoiles rencontrent la mer [When the Stars Meet the Sea] | Raymond Rajaonarivelo | Drama | Depicts the Malagasy liberation struggle, won best film at the Istanbul Film Festival (1998) | |
| 2001 | Makibefo | Alexander Abela | Drama | Based on William Shakespeare's Macbeth | |
| 2004 | Souli | Alexander Abela | Drama | Based on William Shakespeare's Othello | |
| 2004 | Sur les murs de la ville | Fabrice Maminirina Razafindralambo | Short animation | the first Malagasy animation short film in official competition at Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2004 | |
| 2005 | Mahaleo | Marie-Clémence Paes and Raymond Rajaonarivelo | Documentary | Traces the history of Mahaleo, Madagascar's most popular band, won Best documentary (Regards sur le cinema du Sud, Rouen, 2006), won Public Award and second place (Festival du film insulaire de Groix, 2005) | |
| 2006 | the sun rises...then sets | Jiva Eric Razafindralambo | Short animation | Won Best Film at the Rencontres du Film Court Madagascar 2006 | |
| 2007 | Raketa mena | Hery A. Rasolo | Documentary | Won an award at the Ciné Sud de Cozès | |
| 2007 | Tafasiry | Toky Randriamahazosoa | Short | Won Best Film at the Rencontres du Film Court Madagascar 2007 | |
| 2010 | Varavarankely | Sitraka Randriamahaly | Short | Won the Best Animation Film at [[Rencontres du Film Court in 2010 | |
| 2011 | Dzaomalaza et le saphir bleu | Andriamanisa Radoniaina and Mamihasina Raminosoa | |||
| 2012 | Malagasy Mankany | Haminiaina Ratovoarivony | Road-movie | Won Diaspora Award (Hollywood Black Film Festival 2013, USA), won Audience Award (Festival Cine Africano Cordoba 2013, Spain), won Youth Jury Award (Cinémas d'Afrique 2013, France), won Africa Connexion Award (Vues d'Afrique film Festival 2014, Canada), won Best feature film and best actress (Iarivo film festival 2014, Madagascar), Jury special mention (Kouribga 2013, Morocco) | |
| 2012 | La photographie | David Randriamanana | Short | Won second place (Fespaco, Ouagadougou 2013) | |
| 2013 | Madame Esther | Luck Razanajaona | Short | Won second prize (Carthage, Tunisia 2014), won second place (Fespaco, Ouagadougou 2015) | |
| 2015 | Les panthères de l'île rouge | Marie Camille | Road-movie | Official Selection at the Festival International du Film Panafricain de Cannes in 2015 | |
| 2014 | Ady gasy | Lova Nantenaina | Documentaire | Prix Fétnèt Ocean Indien (Fifai, La Réunion), Grand prix Eden domcumentaire (Lumières d'Afrique, Besançon), Mention spéciale du Jury documentaire (Festival Quintessence, Bénin) | |
| 2014 | Odyaina | Laza | Documentary | Shows the relationship between music and mental illness, through the work of some malagasy music therapist. | |
| 2015 | Fasa | Laza | Short | We observe Fasa as she is coping with the loss of her father. | |
| 2019 | Fahavalo, Madagascar 1947 | Marie-Clémence Andriamonta-Paes | Documentary | Doc of the World Award (Montreal World Film Festival), Special Mention (Carthage Film Festival). | |
| Fara | Raymond Rajaonarivelo | Not yet released | |||
References
- Heale, Jay; Latif, Zawiah Abdul (2008). Madagascar. Marshall Cavendish. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-7614-3036-0.
- Kolosary Cinéma Malagasy – Madagascar en 11 Films. Madagascar: Institut Français, Ile de France. 2016.