The Night Of Truth (Global Lens Collection/First Run Features)
Picture: C Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Film: B-
Fanta
Régina Nacro’s The Night Of Truth (2004)
is about two ethnic groups in an unnamed African country finally trying to come
together in peace, but knowing it will not be easy. The film can be obvious and we have seen some
of this before, yet this is made with such authenticity, warmth, realism,
sincerity and natural flow that you feel like you are there.
We first
arrive as a young lady does to the privileged Nayaks who have the power and
want the Bonandés to join them, though it is a very unstable proposition and
anything can go wrong. But the film is
as much a character study as anything about the plotting. With a cast of very interesting,
three-dimensional characters, that is not easy, but Nacro manages to pull it
off and proves to be a very formidable director. That she can more than compete with her U.S.
counterparts is impressive, several of whom should take notice for all the fluff
they are making.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is soft and looks like it was shot on
video of some sort. With that said, it
is well directed, edited and blocked out.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 French/Mooré/Dioula Stereo is good for a low budget
production and the combination is credible.
Extras include DVD-ROM discussion guide PDF, 2005 trailer for this
series (many of which are reviewed on this site) and a frame by frame showcase
of said titles.
- Nicholas Sheffo
