Mozambique’s “Train of Salt and Sugar” wins Boccalini D’Oro prize in Locarno Film Festival

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique’s “Train of Salt and Sugar” wins Boccalini D’Oro prize in Locarno Film Festival

5:55 CAT | 30 Aug 2016

Notícias / A pic from 'Comboio de Sal e Açúcar' directed by Licinio de Azevedo

Film director Licinio Azevedo’s “Train of Salt and Sugar” has won the Italian independent film critics’ Boccalini d’Ouro prize for best production.

The announcement was made after the movie’s screening at the Locarno Festival’s Piazza Grande, where it was announced that it had been awarded the “Open Doors Grant” of 20,000 Swiss francs (about €18.4 thousand euros) and the CNC, worth €7,000 euros.

Director Licinio Azevedo, and the movies’ protagonists Nipita Antonio and Melanie Vales Rafael, and the composer responsible for the music of the film, Joni Schwalbach all attended the festival.

About four and a half thousand spectators watched “Train of Salt and Sugar” at one of the world’s oldest film festivals, and the jury said the film received the award for proving that African cinema could win the hearts of the general public.

The premiere of this film caused great commotion in the Italian press, which characterised it as an “African Western with a truly original story”, and major Swiss newspapers also mentioning the Mozambican production.

“It was the first time a Mozambican film was shown at the Piazza Grande, and the debut did not disappoint. (…) This is a story with western overtones, with references from ‘Apocalypse Now’ to ‘Train de Vie’, and even ‘Fitzcarraldo'”, wrote Nicola Facinella in “La Provincia” newspaper.

For Alessia Bergamaschi, in the Giornale del Popolo: “The Piazza Grande offers good cinema with ‘Train of Salt and Sugar’, an epic movie from Mozambique. A spectacular work, among the most compelling films seen in recent years. (…) A film that deserves applause for pointing out a new path for African cinema.”

Meanwhile, the “La Regione” in an article signed by Ugo Brucaporco say that: “The film does not focus on the causes of conflict, preferring to focus on the human events of the passengers, each with their life experience and their hopes for the future, despite the complex situation. (…) The story is beautiful and well developed.”

Among others fims, Licinio Azevedo has produced “Virgin Margarida”, “Disobedience” and “The Grand Bazaar”. “Train of Salt and Sugar” is an epic feature film that results from a co-production between the Mozambican producer Ebony Multimedia and Portuguese Ukbar Movies.

The film, shot in Maputo, is based on the book with the same title, written 15 years ago by the director himself and recounting a trip made on Mozambican railways. It is the story of a nurse who falls in love with a soldier on a dangerous train journey in the midst of a civil war.

Source: Notícias