Once Upon a Time in Uganda
Cathryne Czubek & Hugo Perez's endearing doc about Ugandan filmmaking group Wakaliwood is both accessible and specific. (This review was originally written as part of our coverage of titles set to premiere at the canceled SXSW 2020; We're reposting around the doc's world premiere at DOC NYC 2021 on November 12th and 17th.) Indie filmmaking tends to be inspiring. Who doesn’t have their hearts warmed by filmmakers bringing their visions to life on shoestring budgets? But the filmmaking group known as Wakaliwood chronicled in Once Upon a Time In Uganda are the scrappiest of scrappy indie directors. Located in the Ugandan slum Wakaliga, this gaggle of artists, led by the director known as Nabwana I.G.G., creates super-violent action movies such as cult sensation Who Killed Captain Alex? on budgets as minuscule as $200 USD. Their productions may not be super polished, but the obvious passion they have for their craft dwarfs the minimal artistry of far more expensive Hollywood tentpoles. Once Upon a Time In Uganda follows New York film festival organizer Alan Hofmanis as he joins Wakaliwood to try and help Nabwana I.G.G. not only make films but also get his productions greater visibility worldwide. In the process, he and Nabwana become like brothers, though the relationship has its fair share of challenges. The story of Hofmanis has its fair share of intriguing moments, particularly an amusing scene where he chats with his stunt double for a cannibal movie Nabwana is filming. Of course, Hofmanis isn’t in Wakaliga forever. This introduces a subplot of Hofmanis as he struggles to maintain long-term relationships, but it ends up making up the weaker part of Uganda’s story. Continue Reading →