Nowhere in Africa (2001)
A Jewish woman named Jettel Redlich flees Nazi Germany with her daughter Regina, to join her husband, Walter, on a farm in Kenya. At first, Jettel refuses to adjust to her new circumstances, bringing with her a set of china dishes and an evening gown. While Regina adapts readily to this new world, forming a strong bond with her father's cook, an African named Owuor.
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Great Film overall
An absolute waste of money
A different way of telling a story
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
There is no doubt that this movie has a number of pluses. Most importantly, it honestly looks at a unique situation concerning World War II and the persecution of Jews by Hitler. This Jewish family which escaped Nazi Germany only finds themselves trapped in the vagaries of World War II, which follows them to Africa. I will not go into the plot, but it is well developed with wonderful acting, cinematography, directing and a perfect musical score. This has become one of my favorites and certainly deserved the awards it one, including Best Foreign Film, and was certainly a much more entertaining film than "Chicago," which one the Best Film at the Academy Awards in 2003.
Germany has produced many great movies, and "Nirgendwo in Afrika" (called "Nowhere in Africa" in English) is another one. Aside from the perceptive plot (a German Jewish family flees the Third Reich and moves to East Africa, where the daughter develops a relationship with a local African), there's also the impressive cinematography. You really do have to see it to get the true experience.Some people may wonder how many movies Germany - or anyone - can make about the Third Reich, but that misses the point. This is an important part of history, and we need to keep the memory alive to avoid repeating it. And this movie does a good job showing it. "NIA" certainly deserved Best Foreign Language Film.
I watched this movie purely because because it has Juliane Kohler in it. I had recently watched Downfall and thought the acting was excellent so obviously wanted to see more. I have a habit of watching a movie purely because of who's in it, and i rarely get disappointed.This movie was unlike anything i have seen before. It is such a great story and in the wrong hands it really could have ended up over sentimental and 'corny'. This movie was anything but. The characters were completely authentic and you sit watching the movie in complete empathy for them, even though i couldn't understand what they're saying! The character there are so many themes going on the movie but they piece together perfectly and keep you rooted to your seat. All i can say is i hope the book is translated into English because i have to read it, the perfect extension to a perfect movie.
This is just a great movie with some excellent acting, especially by the little girl Regina! I would say it is mainly about finding your real self and adapting to new situations - sometimes scary ones.The wife's gradual acceptance of her situation, forced to learn the Swahili language and culture is an interesting journey as her marriage is experiencing problems. The husband was a lawyer in Germany and the wife belonged to the social elite - it is now all different and they have to cope with the new situation.It is also a great story about friendship between white and black that doesn't reflect the colour of your skin. It was a bit like going down memory lane for me as a white kid growing up in Africa myself.Furthermore, it turns the tables slightly as this is also a story about white refugees in black Africa and not the other way around as we are used to.