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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Sat Nov 20 2010 - 15:30:48 EST
Eritrean war film beckons Manganya
Nation Publications
Saturday, Nov 20th Last update03:49:06 PM GMT
Michael Usi has said US moviemakers approached him to feature in a documentary
film based on the protracted Eritrean wars in the Horn of Africa. The
invitation
from Yani Productions of Washington DC comes months after the seasoned actor ,
nicknamed Manganya, shot Watch Out in the US Capital, Washington DC.
In an interview, Usi said he first met an agent of film makers during the
shooting of the release expected to premiere on Christmas at St John
of God Hall
in the northern Malawi city of Mzuzu.
“While in the US, a former Eritrean soldier who has ventured into the film
industry asked me to feature in the war movie and we discussed the
offer and I’m
expected to get a formal offer this week,” said Usi of the documentary whose
shooting is scheduled for mid next year.
He indicated that Watch Out, starring Clare Johnson who appears in Time Machine
and 9/11 blockbuster Countdown to Ground Zero, has opened new avenues and a
flurry of inquiries on his previous releases –Dr Manga, Manganya in Action and
The International Cook.
In an e-mail, the guest actor described Manganya as “a gifted, very creative
comedian with lots of fun ideas” and “delightful to work with.”
And the US Library of Congress has earmarked his past offerings for a cultural
exhibition, also to include films produced by Michael Phoya, a Blantyre-based
film artist.
“We approached Usi having learnt that he has a film made in the USA,”
said Leona
Chilemba, acquisition representative of the US Library of Congress.
Like The International Cook, Watch Out tackles migration issues but this time,
the comic Manganya enters the world’s most powerful nation on a visitors’ visa
before he embarks on an illegal search for employment.
The allure of the states pushes him into a dangerous hideout beyond
the reach of
his Kenyan host and fellow Malawian haunted by his whereabouts.
The film will on the New Year and Chilembwe Day holidays be screened
in Blantyre
and Lilongwe cities, respectively.
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