For the 19th consecutive year, ADIFF Chicago and FACETS collaborate to bring back to the Windy City a selection of award-winning films celebrating the human experience of people of color all over the world. With FACETS being in a reopening phase due to the impact of COVID, the program this year will be a weekend Film Series spotlighting ten award-winning narrative films and documentaries from ten different countries.<\/p>\n
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Four Films in the program are French productions:<\/p>\n
THE MALI-CUBA CONNECTION<\/strong> (FRANCE \/ MALI \/ CUBA)<\/p>\n Edouard Salier and Richard Minier, 2020, France\/ Cuba\/ Mali, Documentary, Spanish, French with English subtitles<\/p>\n In the midst of the Cold War, ten young promising musicians from Mali are sent to Cuba to study music and strengthen cultural links between the two socialist countries. Combining Malian and Afro-Cuban influences, they develop a revolutionary new sound and become the iconic ensemble \u2018Las Maravillas de Mali\u2019. New Year\u2019s Eve 2000. Richard Minier, a French music producer meets a former member of the band in Bamako and decides to bring the band back together.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n FIGHTING FOR RESPECT: AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN WWI<\/strong> (USA)<\/p>\n Joanne Burke, USA\/France, 2021, 54 Min, Documentary, English<\/p>\n Fighting for Respect captures the plight of African American soldiers who fought in WWI, receiving the Croix de Guerre military decoration from France, while still fighting discrimination and hatred at home in America.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n DANCING THE TWIST IN BAMAKO<\/strong> (FRANCE)<\/p>\n Robert Gu\u00e9diguian, France \/ Canada \/ Senegal, 2021, 129min, Romantic Drama, French with English subtitles<\/p>\n Mali, 1962. The youth of Bamako dance the twist to rock and roll music newly imported from the West and dream of political renewal. Samba, a young socialist, falls for spirited Lara during one of his missions to the bush. To escape her forced marriage, she secretly flees with him to the city. But Lara\u2019s husband won\u2019t let them be and the Revolution soon brings painful disillusions as they dream of a future together.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n