Kamy Lara

A documentary reflecting on the memories and facts of the war of liberation in Angola.

There were 57 months, 900 hours of audiovisual material collected in Angolan and international territory, with about 700 statements from protagonists of the anti-colonial struggle. All of this aimed at preserving the memory of a period in history that concerns Angola and the struggle of all peoples under colonial occupation whose memories still have to be registered and thought through.

On November 11, 2020, the day on which Angola celebrates the 45th anniversary of its independence, Cine Africa joins the Angolan audiovisual production company Geração 80 to show documentaries of the project “This is our Memory”, stimulating the production of memory about this historic landmark in the country. All were acquired under the initiative of the Tchiweka Documentation Association called “Angola - On the Rails of Independence”.

Angola's complex history seen through the eyes of a fake taxidermy sable antelope. She takes us on a journey that links colonial ideas from the past with contemporary reality. This short contemplation on the conservation of memory is a brilliant mix between static painted, staged histories, and a physical parade through the streets.

Five dancers explore the concepts of tradition, culture, memory, and identity, questioning the transformation and deconstruction of these themes in their own lives.

On November 11, 2020, the day on which Angola celebrates the 45th anniversary of its independence, Cine Africa joins the Angolan audiovisual production company Geração 80 to show documentaries of the project “This is our Memory”, stimulating the production of memory about this historic landmark in the country. All were acquired under the initiative of the Tchiweka Documentation Association called “Angola - On the Rails of Independence”.

On November 11, 2020, the day on which Angola celebrates the 45th anniversary of its independence, Cine Africa joins the Angolan audiovisual production company Geração 80 to show documentaries of the project “This is our Memory”, stimulating the production of memory about this historic landmark in the country. All were acquired under the initiative of the Tchiweka Documentation Association called “Angola - On the Rails of Independence”.

X, a young man navigating the intensity of life in Luanda — a city that mirrors the energy and contradictions of many African megacities. Alongside his siblings, Lele and Maria, he takes refuge in art, wrestles with faith, and draws strength from the bond of brotherhood. Together, they find release in the underground — from poetry slams to clandestine clubs — where words become weapons of resilience.

The Angolan Civil War still casts its shadow across the life of a young widow. The camera wanders through the rooms in her house, recording everyday objects and activities, while she describes how the war entered the family in a poetic monologue.

In 2015, a group of Angolan artists decided to occupy the spaces of the vacant Globo Hotel in downtown Luanda and transform them into unique exhibition spaces. The multidisciplinary art event “Fuckin’ Globo” categorically rejected funding or institutional support: This radical stance led to a free-spirited approach to cultural, social, and political themes, featuring works created specifically for this event and these spaces. Kamy Lara’s documentary underscores the significance of the project, which celebrates creativity and artistic independence made possible by this collectively initiated intervention. A celebration of innovation and freedom in the heart of Luanda.