Movie #2011 ........................."Farewell Amor" (chicago film fest streaming)

 Movie #2011 "Farewell Amor" (Chicago film fest streaming) This was a very interesting, albeit slow, study of immigrants of Angola getting back together after being separated  by war in their country -- husband has been in US for 17 years and just now, after going through tons of red tape, he is reunited with his now 18 year old daughter and his wife (who has changed and become tied to the church in every decision she makes). The daughter has the bug to dance (like her dad has) and so the "family ties" are pretty contentious for most of the film.  Does absence make the heart grow fonder?  The film takes that up, but also how the US appears to the immigrant experience (which is always good to study).  This is what the father says at one time to his daughter:  "This country is very hard for black people, especially in always having to carry yourself in such  way that white people don't have to worry...." our systemic racism is easily seen by immigrants.......and he goes on:  "Dance is one way I can show myself, see myself"  -- speaks highly of the arts, which has gotten a raw end of the deal with this pandemic (among others, of course).  So the film presents thoughtful studies on a number of items covered in the film.  Besides being painfully slow in some parts,  several parts are garbled --- when they talk to each other, they speak in their native language and because I was streaming from the Chicago film fest website, I couldn't get subtitles for the entire film, and they didn't have them in those parts.  I felt left out, but that's okay because these people coming to our country feel left out, too, for so many reasons, and the film covers them well.  I would give this 3.8 out of 5, and I noticed it was an offering in the Milwaukee Film Festival, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if it is released into a bigger streaming app for more general viewing.  I hope so, because it is really handled well and it  opens our eyes to how the outside world sees the US right now.

"FAREWELL AMOR'   2020    1 hour 35 minutes    (chicago film fest )

Reunited after 17 years, an Angolan immigrant is joined in the U.S. by his wife and daughter. Now strangers sharing a one-bedroom apartment, they discover a shared love of dance that may help them overcome the distance between them.

Director:

 Ekwa Msangi

Writer:

 Ekwa Msangi

Stars:

 Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Zainab Jah, Jayme Lawson