Anbessa

Anbessa is an engaging piece of contemporary cinema released in the year 2019, skillfully directed by Mo Scarpelli. The movie merges the boundary between the documentary and narrative film by leveraging the intimacy of non-fiction with the aesthetic power of narrative storytelling. Starring talented actors Asalif Tewold, Alem Sebisibe Ayitenfsu, and Abinet in key roles, it tells a poignant tale of a child caught in the clash between old and new world views in rapidly modernizing Ethiopia.

The film captures a year in the life of 10-year-old Asalif, a charming, resourceful, and imaginative young boy living on the outskirts of the sprawling Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Encroaching into his homeland is a thriving new condominium complex, symbolic of the modern world and urban progress that disturbingly contrasts his rural life. Asalif and his mother, struggling to hold on to their humble house in the wake of such rapid urbanization, are metaphorical underdogs against this unprecedented change.

Asalif's world represents the diminishing influence of traditional Ethiopia, coloured with practices and cultural beliefs rooted in ancestry and nature. In the wave of condominiums, Asalif finds himself navigating through a challenging labyrinth of concrete walls, filling in the drastic loneliness with his vivid imagination. As physical landscapes change, so do the socio-economic dynamics, leaving Asalif and his mother often isolated, with Asalif's mother cleaning houses in the same condominiums that form the heart of their plight.

Adding to the thematic richness of the movie is Asalif's infatuation with 'Anbessa', the Lion. Throughout the film, Asalif connects his personal dilemmas to the Ethiopian folklore of the lion — the once king of the jungle, now threatened by urban progression. Anbessa becomes a symbol - a spirit animal for Asalif, embodying his courage, strength, and fearlessness against the shadows of urbanization. In his fights, struggles, and fantasies, Asalif is seen more like a metaphoric Anbessa himself, providing a unique, surreal layer to the narrative that starkly contrasts with the harsh realities.

Anbessa, as a film, is a striking portrayal of the East African nation fast morphing through the lenses of globalization, urbanization, and capitalism. It delivers a sardonic narrative of the building tensions between preservation of cultural heritage, nature, and the relentless march of change, fashioning an enchanting parable of global modernization.

Mo Scarpelli's direction deserves special mention; the director deftly balances the raw emotions, visual aesthetics, and the broader socio-political commentary offering a masterfully poignant account of unfolding realities. The cinematography is arresting, capturing the stunning landscapes and the encroaching cityscape with a cinematic finesse that underscores the film's thematic underpinnings. In its entirety, Anbessa is an incredibly shot, meticulously crafted cinematic marvel, devoid of the conventional plot-driven narrative, yet filled with advanced storytelling.

The performances in this film are especially notable. Young actor Asalif Tewold, from whom the movie gets its name, effortlessly carries the film with his charismatic screen presence. His unscripted dialogues and expressions make the character come alive, adding a terrific magical realism element to this cinema verité style movie. Alem Sebisibe Ayitenfsu, playing the mother, delivers a powerfully understated performance, embodying the felt struggle and resilience typical of a changing society.

Without giving too much away, Anbessa is a delicately woven tapestry of reality and folklore, human spirit, and animal instincts, presenting a realm where myth and reality coalesce. It questions our understanding of progress while narrating the story of a boy becoming a lion. The film is a must-watch for its heart-wrenching narrative, remarkable performances, and its distinct cinematic appeal that admirably captures the Ethiopian landscape's beauty and the silent anxiety of its inhabitants amid the mounting wave of modernity. The stakes are high in Asalif's world, as are the emotions in the film.

Summarily, Anbessa is an enchanting jewel of global cinema that vivifies the Ethiopian community's heart and spirit amid a rapidly urbanizing landscape. Its poignant storytelling, combined with brilliant performances and aesthetic, make this film an unmissable piece of art that stands tall in a global array of impactful movies.