Babylon, through the eyes of the audience
and what lessons have we drawn?
Daniel Berhane
On this
gloomy but warm day, Sunday, the 8th of July, several Eritreans made their way
to North London to watch the new Eritrean film, Babylon – the majority of the
audience were young people but there were also many families. This was rather a
little different than the usual Eritrean social gatherings.
The venue
was not any thing like a cinema apart from the darkness or absence of light
that gave it a little resemblance to a cinema, however, every one seemed more
concerned about finding a seat, as the empty chairs were quickly filled; which
meant the unlucky ones had to wait for the next show.
Following
a short documentary on the role of successive Eritrean youth generations in the
national struggle, the long-awaited film, Babylon,
started. With the pop corn going around, great sound system in place and the
silence- the cinematic mood was now fully in place.
As the
film started with the opening title sequence, the question that come to mind is
after the so much effort the audience had made - traveling from far places and
committing their day of rest – will this
film be a disappointment or worth their efforts?
Ultimately
it is through the eyes and response of the audience that determine how good a
film is. The reactions and emotions of the audience that was displayed
throughout Babylon
film will be described below, but now few words on the film and the very
serious national issue it raised.
Babylonis a book turned into a movie. The
book was published in 1995 and has been widely read in Eritrea and amongst Eritreans
living across the world.
Barely
few years into the new era of Eritrean independence while Eritrean people were
celebrating their independence and embarking into a new life - rebuilding their
shattered country and lives after long years of suffering- the writer of the
book, Babylon , Dr Kibreab Fre, envisaged this extraordinary story that there would be new ploy to destroy Eritrean
people’s hard-won independence.
Towards
the end of 1980s, with strategic victories of the Eritrean People’s Libration
Front in Eritrea and beyond, Eritrean independence appeared to be unavoidable;
some officials (including Eritreans) of the then Ethiopian regime, under
Mengstu Hailemariam, who accepted Eritrean independence was inevitable, yet
strongly believed a new long-term post Eritrean independence strategy was
needed to bring back Eritrea under Ethiopia.
For this purpose an organization
of like-minded people with units in different countries
including Ethiopia, Eritrea and the command center in USA, Washington, was
formed prior to Eritrean independence with a multifaceted plan and calculations
of the challenges the new Eritrean government would face - given the challenges
of building a country from below zero and exploiting these challenges to
achieve the organization’s goal.
The main
plot of the film is clashes between this organization and Samuel, tegadlay, who
accidentally comes across the secret document with details of the plan. Since
the organization had well entrenched itself into Eritrean government
institutions, Samuel was hunted by the police and also endangering the lives of
individuals who he came into contact with.
The ploys
of the organization were very sophisticated; it had successfully penetrated its
Eritrean members into the EPLF during the struggle for independence so that
they get key positions in the post independence Eritrean government. Another
big advantage of the organization was also the financial backing of the USA
government (that deeply opposed Eritrean independence) which it utilized to get
its ways with officials.
Dr.
Kibreab Fre is a well admired writer not only for his very gripping writings
but the topics he has written about. Since much of what he wrote as fiction,
has transpired into reality, the question how he predicted or envisaged things
has been the most discussed point amongst many Eritreans.
In the
last twelve years, Eritrea
has gone through very trying times, from military aggression, psychological,
economic, and social warfare to the ongoing USA’s naked aggression using the UN
to bring down the country to its knees.
It is,
therefore, no wonder, the reaction and emotions displayed by the audience,
watching this film was extraordinary. It was rather two way communications,
when the character defending Eritrean national interest, seemed to be loosing,
as though, Eritrea were loosing its independence for real, emotions went high,
some even shouted supporting the character and showing their revulsion at the
other characters who were determined to get their way at the expense of the
Eritrean national interest.
There
film was a real emotional journey including a few moments of laughter. All the
characters delivered very well in particular the main character Samuel, played
by Aman HamidIbrahim.
Although most of us, did not envisage much of the
challenges our country faced, they were bound to happen - looking back into
recent history now. As it has been revealed by some former USA officials such as Former US Assistant
Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Cohen, even after Eritrea was librated in 1991, the USA
tried for some form of unity between the two countries. The TPLF, had not then
consolidated its power, it pretty much depended on EPLF and could not afford to
listen to the advice of Washington.
The other
aspect a lesson can be learned from the recent experience is as the Eritrean
independence appeared to be inevitable towards the end of 1980s, Eritreans who
conspired with enemies including those who held seniors position in Ethiopian
regimes joined EPLF in the hope of getting some position in the post
independence era. When Eritrea
was faced with challenges with the Weyane backed by the USA, these individuals and others
with hidden agenda were the first to betray the country, once again conspiring
with enemies.
Once
again as it will certainly happen, when Eritrea fully comes out of the
current challenges as victorious, what lessons do we draw from the recent
history and from the foxes dressed in sheep’s clothing?
In
conclusion Babylon
is a very timely film and has taken the
Eritrean film industry to another level technically and in terms of content.
This is a film that has required talents and dedication of many individuals in
their respective fields. The Director, Wedi Feraday, has once again delivered
excellent production.
The film is very
gripping and enjoyable, but it is recommended that you watch it in a larger
group to experience both the film and the reaction to it. For the people who
are old enough to experience the pre independence era, it will also bring some
memories.
Although everyone
regardless of their age, had equally their attention grabbed by the film, as I did, you might
get a question asked “what does EiSePa mean?” by a young man who was born with
the re-birth of the nation. Therefore, our writers will need to consider a very
significant number of our population, who will need some form of reference or
description of the words or names that belong to the past.
Babylonmovie ended with grand of applause; fully satisfied
audience both by the quality of movie and the fact the ploys of enemies of Eritrea
ended with failure and a big smile from the main Character, Samuel.
Received on Fri Jul 13 2012 - 10:09:30 EDT
