SENTIENT Entertainment Presents...
After watching the trailer for the highly anticipated The Woman King, I became excited at the thought of yet another historical film centering a prominent African figure. This is a large genre (with even more subgenres) that has been explored frequently when it comes to African stories. Whether it's The Last King of Scotland or Hotel Rwanda, there is no shortage of historical films surrounding African heroes (or villains) who helped shape history. But I feel like we've only just scratched the surface.
It's a genre full of creative possibilities. You could choose to tell a story that is historical but also satirical or highly fictitious like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Or you could go in the opposite direction and make a film so realistic in story structure and form like 1917. Whichever direction you choose, there's always something to take away from historical stories.
So in the spirit of celebrating the historical genre of film, below is a list of 3 historical film pitches based on African legends that I think would be very entertaining to watch on the big screen. I've decided to incorporate a mix of subgenres to keep things interesting. (Netflix, if you're reading please consider hiring me!)
1. Kintu & Nambi
Genre:
Family Animation; Fantasy, Musical. (Think Disney's Encanto and Hercules meets traditional Baganda folklore).
Premise:
The first man to ever walk on earth was not Adam. His name was Kintu and he was destined for greatness. He fell in love with a beautiful princess named Nambi. Their love changed the world.
Protagonist:
Kintu
Antagonist:
Walumbe, brother to Nambi and God of Death.
Central Conflict:
Kintu and Nambi love each other very much and wish to get married, but their love is unexpectedly put to the test by her over-protective brother, Walumbe.
Why?
Have you ever seen a 'Disney-esque' musical movie about an African man who falls in love with an African woman? The answer is no. And for all those who want to mention The Lion King, you can kindly take a seat. I think it's time we got a hero's journey following an eccentric African male lead but in a family-friendly manner. This isn't a story with a lot of violence. It's a story about a young man coming into his own, rebelling against the gods and finding love. It's a classic tale that has been done over and over again. But I think the reason we keep on telling these kinds of stories as humans, is because we like them and because they're seeped with lessons we can impart on future generations, like 'never give up' or 'stand up for what you believe in'.
Plus a movie like this could be a powerful way to show younger children of the Baganda tribe their ethnic heritage in a way that speaks to modern attitudes towards culture. I wish it weren't so, but gone are the days of traditional oral storytelling being the norm. Kids today respond to digital media more than anything else. If we want them to know about their heritage, then we need to communicate with them in a format they understand.
2. Lumumba's Legacy
Genre:
Documentary
Premise/ Central Narrative:
What can we learn about Patrice Lumumba from his journey to power as the DRC's first Prime Minister? What secrets and untold truths remain hidden in the story of his assassination? What are the impacts of Lumumba's leadership and sudden assassination? This would be a documentary film that attempts to answer these questions.
Why?
Recently, Patrice Lumumba has been trending on the news because after so many years, Belgium has finally returned the remnants of Lumumba's body to the DRC. It piqued my interest because I had vague knowledge of Lumumba. I knew he was an influential historical African figure, but I didn't really know just how much he did for his country and for African people. So I challenged myself and started reading into his life and what I discovered was truly inspiring, but I want to know more.
I love documentaries because they have a way of answering the questions we can't just get from a simple google search. At their best, they present a thorough, evidence-based approach to uncover the truth. I think a documentary like this could help us discover more about what Lumumba stood for and why his stance was so threatening to many others.
3. Hatshepsut: Pharaoh of Egypt
Genre:
Biopic; Drama
Premise:
After the death of her husband, King Thutmose II, Hatshepsut becomes a regent for her infant stepson Thutmose III. Her ambition and her quest for truth lead her to become Pharaoh, King of Egypt.
Central Conflict:
Hatshepsut finds herself in a difficult place after the death of her husband. She must lead her people, protect her stepson and make a name for herself as Pharaoh of Egypt. The central conflict of the film would draw from this internal struggle within the character of Hatshepsut. Being royal means keeping up appearances and constantly feeling like you have to prove yourself, especially if you're a woman in 1479 BCE.
Why?
We're living in an era in which gender inequality still persists in almost every fraction of life and the film industry is not any different. Women are still vastly underrepresented compared to men both on camera and behind the scenes. That's why stories like this one are important.
If done right, Hatshepsut: Pharaoh of Egypt could be an entertaining spectacle that also carries the emotional weight that every good story does. There are so many things a movie like this could accomplish:
Added nuance: We don't know that much about Hatshepsut. And it doesn't help that she was almost erased from history to start with. A film like this could help us imagine what her life would've been like.
Authentic representation: Hatshepsut was a human being just like you and me. She probably had fears, dreams and expectations to live up to. She probably loved life and her people. I think if this film got made, she should be written as such-- not some super-powerful, ultra-privileged 'girl boss' who gets everything she wants.
Educate: One thing I appreciate about movies based on mythology and history is how they inspire me to do a bit of reading on my own. I'm naturally curious and I want to know about the past and how it affects the present. I think a movie like this would inspire people to find out more about Hatshepsut on their own.
I hope you enjoyed my pitch. I am a filmmaker, so don't be too surprised if these ideas become a reality in the near future...
What other African legends do you think deserve a film adaptation? Let me know in the comments below! And if you haven't already, subscribe to SENTIENT's monthly newsletter and never miss out on updates.
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