Despite pandemic restrictions, the movie "Heart of Africa 2" is still showing in theaters across Utah and receiving a warm reception from hardy cinephiles who enjoy its timely story line and the sincere performances of the main actors and actresses.
It would be a shame if this film, which won third place for a feature film at the recent LDS Film Festival, is allowed to slip out of theaters anytime soon. It's one of those films that will benefit from word of mouth and grow a respectable audience if given half a chance.
It's message of intercultural understanding and the relevance of conflict resolution in today's disintegrating world has never been more important -- or needed. According to one of the movie's producers, Bruce Young -- who spends most of his time teaching Shakespeare and C. S. Lewis to students at Brigham Young University.
I spoke to Bruce recently about his involvement in "Heart of Africa" and "Heart of Africa 2." We viewed the second film together at the Thanksgiving Point Megaplex. Bruce says that he and his wife Margaret, who has script credit on both films, were determined to help revive the film industry in the Congo DR, after it ground to a halt nearly thirty years ago during a period of civil unrest.
The couple teamed up with Congolese director Tshoper Kabambi, helping to find grant money, equipment, and staff behind and before the camera. Both movies were filmed entirely in the Congo DR.
"Heart of Africa 2" basically retells the story of "Heart of Africa" from the POV of Elder Jason Martin, a service missionary from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, called to help build an orphanage in the Congo DR with his native companion Gabriel Ngandu.
This is not a Church PR film, by any means. We see the two companions struggling with demons from their past and coming to grips with cultural and racial misunderstandings and intolerance that at several junctures lead to very unChristian macho behavior. Emotions and dialogue get pretty raw in places. At one point Elder Martin calls Elder Ngandu a 'jungle monkey.' This is both extremely shocking -- and extremely real.
As a Church missionary myself, serving in Thailand for two years, I had companions that ranged from true saints to slackers who were only there because their parents promised them a new car if they would carry on the family tradition by serving a mission. I was physically threatened by my companion on several occasions -- fortunately, instead of resorting to macho responses I tended to joke my way out of those situations like Woody Allen or Bob Hope. Putting two young men together in a strange place, with a ton of rules and restraints added into the bargain, is not your average formula for immediate camaraderie. Perhaps one of the real miracles of the Church's massive missionary program is that almost all companionships lead to lasting friendships instead of assault charges.
But even though "Heart of Africa 2" is not propaganda, it does take on the controversial and complex issue of the role of Jesus Christ in an individual's life. The film dares to sidestep other issues like racism, colonialism, and sex, for a good fifteen minutes to focus on how the Savior's sacrifice and atonement influenced and changed both Martin and Ngandu. This Christ-centered dialogue is breath-taking because, among other reasons, it's not pandering to the normal popcorn-chomping movie crowd's cravings.
It's a bold, and, to my way of thinking, admirable, movie maker who is willing to challenge audiences with the age-old question "What think ye of Christ?"
Movie goers will be well rewarded for taking the trouble to view "Heart of Africa 2" during it's limited run. Bruce Young assures me the film will eventually be available to stream, but the film really benefits from the generous screen of a Megaplex; there are many exceptionally beautiful and haunting shots in the film that will stay with the viewer for a long time.
