ANBESSA
Synopsis
A big condominium promises thousands of Ethiopians a better life. Constructed on the farmland of 10-year-old Asalif and his mother, it leaves them just a tool shed with no water. While the city keeps growing, the young boy battles forces beyond his control thanks to his imagination and sharp wits.
Synopsis
A big condominium promises thousands of Ethiopians a better life. Constructed on the farmland of 10-year-old Asalif and his mother, it leaves them just a tool shed with no water. While the city keeps growing, the young boy battles forces beyond his control thanks to his imagination and sharp wits.
Our take
A coming-of-age journey with a dose of magical realism, this documentary from Mo Scarpelli challenges stereotypes about childhood outside of the West. Emboldened by the beautiful relationship between subject and director, Anbessa strikes a delicate balance between topicality and formal adventure.