Nowhere in Africa definitely takes you somewhere

6/25/13, Nowhere in Africa, Best Foreign Film, 2001

I have been trying to write this review for two days. I probably should have just done it while I was thinking about it, because it was really great in my head. Every time I start typing, it just sounds so trite or too gushy. I don't want to gush, but I really would like to express how much I appreciated the story arc and the character development and how wonderful the movie is, so here I go. The Redlichs are a German Jewish family who emigrate to Kenya to escape the ever-increasing oppression and marginalization of the Jews. Walter is an attorney, Jettel is his wife who is used to the upper middle class life they used to lead, and Regina is their daughter who at first seems afraid of her own shadow. The movie takes place between 1937-1947 and begins in Germany, but the majority of the time is spent in Kenya. Both countries are 'characters' in their own ways; Germany is the place of memory and family and where the family (at different times) yearns to return; Kenya is where they have to learn new languages and a culture, push past their own self-imposed limitations, and at different times consider it to be their home. You get the sense that Walter, more than his wife or the rest of their families, has an idea of what was in store for the Jews, and that's why he gave up being a successful (we assume) attorney to be a farm manager when he has no idea what he is doing. He gets Jettel and Regina out in time, but Jettel is really not prepared for this new life out in this strange world with strange people and strange language, and wants to go back home. Regina, who is perhaps 7 or 8, seems to be very skittish when she is in Germany, but quickly finds her legs and her inner explorer. It's important to keep in mind that while the family is in Kenya, relatively safe, if not inconveniences and occasionally displaced, their family in Germany is being subjected to stricter and harsher laws against Jews, ultimately some of them are sent to camps, others killed in other ways. Also, as a viewer in the 21st, I know what happened during that time, so every time Jettel cries that she wants to go back, I yelled at the television 'you cannot go back, they will kill you', but she didn't know that. All I will say is do not give up on Jettel, even though you may be very tempted to do just that.

The Redlichs interact with many different people, but Susskind, a fellow German Jewish ex-patriot, has more experience in Africa and often stops by with advice and guidance for Walter. Owour starts off the film by taking care of Walter during a malaria attack and stays as the cook and he teaches Walter Swahili. Owour and Regina bond almost immediately and Regina is an eager student of language and culture. Jettel and Owour do not get along very well in the beginning; Jettel does not understand the role of women in her new society (like getting water, which makes for a humorous scene) and Jettel refuses to learn Swahili and will only speak German to Owour, which he does not understand. Jettel and Walter save their money so they can send Regina to an English boarding school, so Regina now learns English and she also learns that as a Jewish girl, she and the other Jewish students are treated differently, excused from saying prayers, etc. This is probably the first time since being in Germany that her 'Jewishness' is addressed in a negative or pejorative way; her parents, like many other Jewish families, were not observant Jews, and considered themselves Germans first and Jews second. Despite this and some of the other challenges at the school, she does very well and the headmaster comments as such. Eventually, the British (Kenya is a British colony) round up all Germans, Jews and gentiles and intern them; Walter eventually joins the British army and Jettel takes over the farm they have been managing for a British soldier. Remember, this is the person who wanted to go back to Germany and refused to learn Swahili. Jettel develops her own bond with Owour and the farm workers, and Kenya. The irony is that as she is finding her place, Walter gets 'demobbed' from the army (the war has since ended) and he and the family can return to Germany so Walter can work as a judge in post-war Germany. It's an interesting role reversal. After her 'transforming experience', I really liked Jettel. The almost very last scene made me cry, it was poetry.

This little half-assed synopsis only scratches the surface, but I hope it's enough to get you interested. I have watched a lot of movies about the Holocaust, read books, etc., but I think is a unique way to include what happened without soldiers, ghettos and camps. It's an important element, it is the motivation for the Redlichs to leave Germany, but it is not the story. The evolution (I can't think of another word) of the Redlichs is the story; how they interact with the land, the people, the animals, is the story, and it seems like they are in the perfect setting. It's about relationships. The actresses who play Regina do a great job, it seems like they are really enjoying being in that location and climbing trees, etc. It reminded me of The Flame Trees of Thika which I saw on Masterpiece Theater years ago, and it's about a little girl growing up with her family in early 20th century Africa (Kenya, again, I think). It's hard to imagine being a little kid, moving away from your home to a place where most people do NOT speak your language, the food is different, the culture is very strange, and there you are. But, I think this shows how resilient kids can be, and they're tougher than we think and they can totally thrive given the right conditions. There is some nudity and sex (not much), so it's probably really not for kids, but if you can figure out a way to skip over those scenes, it might be (let me clarify, older teens, not little kids). It's a girl on an adventure (not enough of those stories). It's beautifully filmed, in a beautiful country. I've been trying to plan a trip to Africa (what do you mean it's a huge continent?), so maybe this will motivate me some more.

I've re-read this, I don't know if it gets the point across - SEE THIS MOVIE (five stars on Netflix, and I never do that), but I hope so. People tend to flinch when it comes to foreign films, maybe they seem too intimidating or snooty (and some are), but there are some great movies out there in languages other than English. I am actually going to do another 'Best of' list of some foreign films that I recommend.