Makala

Released Aug 24, 2018

1 hr. 36 min.

Documentary

List

88%

26 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

In Congo, a young peasant dreams of a better future for his loved ones. His only wealth lies in the strength of his arms, the bushland around him and his strong will. As he sets out on dangerous and exhausting adventures to trade the fruit of his work, he discovers the value of his effort and the price he must pay for his dreams.

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Critics Consensus

Makala depicts a life that may be unusual to many viewers, but one whose essential struggles still resonate half a world away.

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Audience Member

An extremely quiet and methodically paced doc, directed by Emmanuel Gras, that will probably only appeal to the most patient of cinephiles. The film centers on a 28-year-old Congolese man Kabwita Kasongo, living in a rural part of the nation with his family. We will follow him as he laboriously cuts down a huge tree and prepares an oven to make charcoal (makala in Swahili). He will eventually make enough to begin the 50 kilometer exhausting and dangerous trek from his hometown of Walemba to the urban market, utilizing a most overloaded bicycle, where with the proceeds of the sales he hopes to begin construction of a better home for himself and his family. Once in the city, Kabwita will have to contend with the haggling of buyers and the high cost of construction materials. He will often have to rely on his strong faith to get through some of life's harsh realities. Overall, if one has the patience the engaging naturalness of this film offers a number of rewards to the viewer.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Emmanuel Gras

Director

Kabwita Kasongo

Self

Lydie Kasongo

Self

Nicolas Anthomé

Producer

Emmanuel Gras

Cinematographer

Manuel Vidal

Sound Engineer

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Nick Allen

RogerEbert.com

Filmgoers looking for something to explicitly counter August's summer movie exhaustion should get first in line for Makala.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 24, 2018

Full Review

Tim Grierson

Paste Magazine

Makala depicts a harsh reality, but its unexpected beauty comes from the nonchalance of its portrayal.

Rated: 8.8/10

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

New York Times

To ponder the colonial implications of a French director exoticizing a Congolese man whose family eats rats for meals is to realize that a movie can be heartwarming and heartless at once.

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Laura Davis

One Room With A View

The film's spiritual overtones are compelling, however, Makala risks alienating some audiences by its silencing and aestheticization of the subjects it depicts. It is still a blissful 96 minutes, nonetheless.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 22, 2019

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

Makala shows far more than it tells, allowing the story to emerge gradually from a series of gorgeous visuals.

Rated: 8/10

Dec 27, 2018

Full Review

Sarah Foulkes

Nonfics

Avoids most of the traps of exoticism...but it makes the mistake of using observation as its only route to intimacy.

Apr 21, 2018

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Synopsis

In Congo, a young peasant dreams of a better future for his loved ones. His only wealth lies in the strength of his arms, the bushland around him and his strong will. As he sets out on dangerous and exhausting adventures to trade the fruit of his work, he discovers the value of his effort and the price he must pay for his dreams.

Director: Emmanuel Gras
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Bathysphère Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Swahili
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2018

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