On this page: BAATO | KOKOMO CITY | A LIFE ON THE FARM

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It's fascinating to hear these people talking about the medicines they are carrying, from the key ingredient of paracetamol to some illicit ones they need to smuggle secretly. Other items they can only carry as gifts, but not for sale, and there are discussions about permits and taxes. The women carry especially enormous loads on their backs, so it's understandable when they get a chance to take a bus get a lift in a truck.

Along the way, the cameras also observe the people this family encounters, including city dwellers, those travelling by road and the construction crews, which often include local workers. Mikma's family jokes about the changing modes of transportation, laughing that at this rate the road won't be finished until after they die. And maybe one day they'll make the journey by helicopter. The point is made quietly that life in this remote valley can't escape the advance of progress for long, and nothing will never be the same here.

themes, language

25.Jul.23

These women observe that the men who date them are the kinds of guys who are looking for a way to express themselves more openly than society allows. This helps balance the fact that they are involved with Black men who are cheating on Black wives. But then they don't understand why everyone is so fascinated about who is sleeping with whom. They struggle to maintain their identity apart from men, but they are finding their voices. And they know this topic far better than most.

What these women know is that far more men are repressed homosexuals than anyone expects. And trans hookers offer sex that doesn't violate the rules of Black masculinity, letting them convince themselves that they're not gay while perpetuating a sexist subculture. So the men who are able to open up and talk about this feel almost shockingly open-minded. In other words, pretty much everyone in this film is helping to shatter stereotypes about Black sexuality and gender.

themes, language, sexuality

20.Jul.23

Indeed, the neighbours' comments are much more interesting than the fan-style talking heads, as they piece Charles' story together with firsthand memories and personal observations. They trace the history of the family farm and the many years Charles spent as a teacher, returning in the mid-1980s to help his elderly parents. When he became interested in videography, he set out to document his life with attention to unusual details. And he was proud that his photos took first prize in a national competition.

This is a fascinating look at a man who found an unusual outlet for his creativity, setting up photographs and captioning them like comic books, then orchestrating scenes for his delightfully surreal films. It's impossible to know how much of the oddities on tape were a result of his dementia. But Charles had a clear interest in the life cycle, from birth to death. And he spend his life giving bespoke versions of his movie to friends, knowing there was a larger audience for his work.

themes, language

4.Sep.23