Mozambique: Luís Bernardo Honwana’s ‘Nhinguitimo’ adapted into film

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Mozambique: Luís Bernardo Honwana’s ‘Nhinguitimo’ adapted into film

3:46 CAT | 24 Mar 2021

[Photo: Twitter / @FranceMaputo]

Licínio de Azevedo is to adapt for cinema the short story ‘Nhinguitimo’ from the book ‘We Killed Mangy Dog, and Other Stories’ by Luís Bernardo Honwana. The 20-minute short film, budgeted at about four million meticais, is set to start production in July.

“Just before the start of the harvest, the doves gather in the forests that divide the machambas in the valley. For two or three weeks, in large groups, they fly over the fields in large circles.” Thus begins the short story ‘Nhinguitimo’, one of the seven that make up the iconic ‘Nós Matámos o Cão Tinhoso” by Luís Bernardo Honwana. Published 57 years ago ( 1964), this text is the first by the author to be adapted for cinema.

Licínio de Azevedo’s project starts one year after movie production stopped in Mozambique.

“We didn’t produce anything last year, and we decided that we couldn’t continue like this,” Azevedo said. Knowing that it is now impossible to obtain financing abroad for more ambitious productions, the director has, for the time being, set aside old, grander projects in order to invest in one possible to finance domestically.

Licínio de Azevedo chose ‘Nhinguitimo’ because the story takes place in the 1960s, a period alien to today’s youth. The director’s expectation is therefore that young people will, in some way, draw a sharper contrast with what happened in Mozambique – in a certain area of Moamba, for example, in the province of Maputo

Simultaneously, Azevedo realised that none of the stories included in the book ‘We Killed Mangy Dog’ had ever been adapted for cinema. “I hope the film lives up to the story he wrote so well,” he confessed.

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The announcement of the shooting of the 20-minute short film was made this Tuesday at the Franco-Mozambican Cultural Centre in Maputo.

The film’s producer is Jorge Ferrão, who was also present at the launch session. Ferrão and Azevedo worked on projects together some 40 years ago. “Licínio remembered the times we worked on some productions together and asked me if I would be interested in working with him on this film. I thought it would be a good challenge to return to work together in my spare time, without giving up my work, and to help make this production,” he commented.

Licínio’s film has the support of domestic companies and the French Embassy in Mozambique. “One role of the French embassy is to support cultural workers,” cultural attaché Laurent Pérez-Vidal says. “Cinema, which mixes the dream and the real, is a relevant sector for France. Cinema has cultural and economic value. Furthermore, Licínio’s films are reflections of the soul that wanders over society.”

With the memorandum of support signed, the identification of locations can now begin, Azevedo says. eligible locations include the districts of Moamba, Boane and Marracuene, all in Maputo province.

Also in view is casting, which will be coordinated by Hermelinda Simela, who has worked with Licínio Azevedo on the films Comboio de Sal e Açúcar and Virgem Margarida. Other technical roles are still under consideration, although the director has said that Pipas Forjaz has been appointed director of photography.

🇫🇷🇲🇿#Nósmatamos o cão tinhoso em versão 🎬cinematográfica. A embaixada🇫🇷 orgulha-se de apoiar a realização da curta metragem baseada no 📚 do B.Honwana. O @CCFMoz acolheu a anuncio da gravação com a estreia prevista para Setembro próximo. #cinema #producao #curtametragem pic.twitter.com/setHpuGKT9

— La France au Mozambique (@FranceMaputo) March 23, 2021