Zimbabwean cinema is often overlooked in the local arts industry however that has never stopped local film maker Tafadzwa Ranganai from pursuing his passion. His latest offering Bako is a captivating film that explores issues at the center of Zimbabwean society, the desire to succeed and attain wealth despite all odds some even life threatening.
Synopsis
The film Bako follows 4 fellow illegal miners Kuda (played by Paul Zibgowa), Tanaka (Zebron Thembo), Simon (Kudzai Kizito Madangwa), Peter (Mathias Kureva) on their mining adventure to Mermaid Mine. Basing on the information coming from an eccentric and often untrustworthy old man named ‘Mdara Domingo’ Kuda convinces his fellow miners that an old shaft mine, said to have been closed on allegations of supernatural activities and disappearance of miners has an exorbitant amount of gold. The four miners agree to journey to the mysterious mine (hence the name Bako meaning Cave in local Shona language) however they are unaware their lives are going to be transformed forever.
Review
Tafadzwa picked illegal mining as an anchor for his story so as to appeal to the local viewer. It is safe to say in Zimbabwe most people have thought of illegal mining when life has them knocked down. In that light, Tafadzwa said he asked himself ‘what would happen if illegal miners encountered a supernatural force in these poorly secured and highly dangerous underground mines?’ the answer to that question is what inspired the brilliant film Bako.
Tafadzwa’s artistic genius can be seen all over the film, a very observant individual who picks inspiration from daily life experiences. In an interview, he said meeting an old acquaintance who left his prestigious medical job to delve into illegal mining, showed him just how the desire to succeed plagues Zimbabweans into doing life threatening activities. Similar to Tafadzwa’s old friend overlooking all the dangers of illegal mining, the four young men in the film overlook the stories of horrific supernatural activities often referred to as ‘kuyera’ in Zimbabwe (this is when a place or object is protected by supernatural means thus discouraging people from entering or using the object/place). This artistic genius allows Tafadzwa to connect our traditional values with modern art and ultimately gives this film an allure that is sure to connect with every Zimbabwean.
A genius in how he creatively builds his sets and approaches cinematography, Tafadzwa’s film seems to be under high budget funding from big production houses. The director collaborated with Creative Hub and Inhouse Media for the production of the film however most of the funding was a result of Taffy selling his car to finance his film. This ability to creatively solve issues that otherwise require funding have allowed Bako to be a hit on the big screens despite the low budget funds. Just by looking at the level of detailing on the hand built set of the mines interior, this film is sure to immerse viewers into the deep world of underground mining. Taffy also attempts new techniques and works them into perfection such as his VFX and Sound design which tie perfectly with the theme of the film. Furthermore, including local artists Mr Honah and Rap Killer to offer a soundtrack for the film is a step forward in building our local film and media industry.
Overall, Bako is an excellent film that cleverly makes use of cinematography, setting, casting and lighting to portray mood and bring out the message. Chair gripping, funny and relevant, Bako is a must see. One will find themselves craving more of the humor that was displayed by the cast. Well done Taffy and Zimbabwe need to see this!
