Augure + Zombies

VO: French, Swahili, Lingala, English  l ST: Dutch 

Four characters, considered witches or wizards by their families and communities, see their paths cross in a magical-realistic Congo. Only through mutual aid and reconciliation can they escape the curse that rests upon them.

An energetic and empathetic group portrait that explores the weight of Congolese belief systems. Compelling, unique and visionary.

Augure is the first feature film by Baloji, a Belgian-Congolese rapper and performer. He wrote the first version of his film in 2018, after the death of his father. The professional mourners hired by his family inspired Baloji for this rock-solid debut with a magical-realistic angle. The film has already won awards at Cannes, received very favourable reviews and was chosen as Belgium's entry for the Oscars. Augure won the Ensor for Promise of the Year and the Ensor for Best Francophone Belgian Film.

 

Shortfilm Zombies

Sammy Baloji / DR Congo / 2019 / 14’ 

Cast: Popaul Amisi, Divine Bamba, Gaelle Kibikonda 

Gesproken: Lingala l Ondertiteld: Engels

A journey between hope and dystopia in a hallucinated Kinshasa, Zombies goes from the local hairdressing salon to a futuristic nightclub, from an urban parade to the glory of a  dictator's campaign to a modern western, like Takeshi Kitano. It's Baloji's critical look at the dehumanisation caused by excessive smartphone use, which seems to be turning into a veritable epidemic.

 

Tickets available through Cinema ZED or with a filmpas through this link.