Cinema – year 2010’s golden zebu: not much to get mad on, the jury and the audience disappointed

Tsilavina Ralaindimby, president of the 5th National Short Film Show’s jury has openly displayed his disappointment regarding the contenders’ products as well as the malagasy cinema’s general development. According to his assessment, technical know how and scripts are still to be improved prior to reflecting the art’s true meaning. “At such a stage, professionals have to support the newborn talents”, declared the director and former national TV channel’s star speaker. “Actions have to be part of a long term effort, and ambitions must be regional, as well as continental”.  

The president of the 5th NSFS’s jury estimates that the Malagasy cinema has to start with convincing the home audience. ” There had been sparks, but no flame yet, at least not enough ones to bring light in”. Sitraka Randriamahaly has won the golden zebu with “small window”. The jury’s choice has not necessarily been caught up by movie fans. History and the metaphorical title are elusive: A baby is watching around by a window, then he is going down to play soccer with a friend, as reflected by the shadows of a couple of boys playing with a ball; the smallest of them falls down, and the other brings him back on his feet; the end. No wonder that the general reaction was: “what’s the story in there?”.  

“Small window” is a 3D animated movie. It is technically less valuable than the second runner up “Where are we from now”, a report of the hardship of finding a job. Vaika Raveloson’s production is technically perfect, maybe too perfect. This visual perfection is no match with the neglected drawings and the sensitivity reflected by Sitraka Randriamahaly. The nomination of José Rakotobe’s “the Act” as first runner up served the will to keep the contest away from being a simple technical achievement challenge. The young director from Antalaha has long been addicted to video filming. His movie is a suspense product: a woman is lazily resting, her husband is in the kitchen, bound to kill her. The outcome is interesting.  

The audience elected “Beautiful Life”, and rewarded its director Andry Rarivonandrasana. “Money and fun are not necessarily the single sources of happiness; life’s very simple things are contributing to it “, entrusted the young director. His movie is, however, telling the story of a poor man in search of small jobs to pay for his dinner. The nice hero will finally be rewarded. This movie is definitely reflecting the genuine daily Malagasy reality. The technical features are interesting, and the cartoons have similarities with past times’ comics.  

The young directors rewarded by the 5th National Short Movie Festival are entitled to an invitation to attend an international scale event. Antananarivo’s cinema events has prestigious partners like the Off-Short Festival of Trouville in France, the Berlinerische Afrikamera and the international Festival of Africa and the Islands of La Reunion isl.. The year 2010 golden Zebu, Sitraka Randriamahaly, was the year 2009 first runner up. He will be granted the privilege to polish his knowledge in Trouville, whereas José Rakotobe, this year’s first runner up will be invited in… Berlin!