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ABC Africa

Play trailer Poster for ABC Africa Released May 3, 2002 1h 23m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A documentary shot on digital video about the ravages of AIDS and civil war in Uganda. Over the course of his ten-day visit, director Kiarostami comes across many heart-breaking sights. His cameras capture and caress the faces of a thousand children, all orphans, whose parents have died of AIDS. It records tears and laughter, music and silence, life and death. It attests to Africa's sunny resilience to so much suffering and disease.

Critics Reviews

View All (24) Critics Reviews
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader The most accessible film to date by Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami. Feb 13, 2020 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 2/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Keith Uhlich Slant Magazine There is a sense here of an encroaching darkness humbly met, unburdened by one-note feelings such as fear or joy and simply experienced as a profound moment of enlightenment. Rated: 3/4 Jun 24, 2005 Full Review Robert Davis Paste Magazine Despite the locale, ABC Africa is both new and familiar for those who know Kiarostami, and it's a great introduction for those who don't. Rated: 4/5 Jun 5, 2008 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Unexpectedly humane and lovely and not at all preachy. Oct 20, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jun 19, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (15) audience reviews
Audience Member A change-of-pace for Kiarostami. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Amazing, appalling, absolutely enthralling. A great documentary that never, never explains too much. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie is probably the worst documentary I have seen in my entire life. I had to really force myself to continue watching it. I was really interested in the topic and I am big into philanthropy and charity work and I expected a touching and inspiring movie, but I was more than disappointed. The director is exploiting the topic to his own gain and not showing any of the issues at hand. The first half hour of the movie is basically showing a few kids dancing in the streets, fascinated by a camera, which they have probably never seen before. Also it shows a driver driving a car, incredibly fascinating - not! When they finally talk about the HIV/Aids issue, they say maybe 2 lines and then move one. The sound quality is horrible and translations are barely ever done and never there when you need them. And then the worst part, three guys talking for about 10 minutes in Arabic (?) with English subtitles on a black screen about the fact that it is incredibly dark - no kidding - it gets dark at night!!! And then another fascinating subject: raindrops on a driving car and windshield wipers at different settings. Wow if I wanted to see that I would not choose to watch a documentary supposedly about HIV in Uganda! Incredibly horrible movie! I feel sorry for the organization that gave their money to the director to sponsor a movie about their program to help Aids orphans, they did not get what they paid for! And I dont recommend anyone to watch this movie - you will not get what you pay for!!! For more reviews see: bluetouchreviews.webs.com Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member If I had not seen or known about Kiarostami's connection with Farough Farrokhzad I may have not made the connection to "House is Black", but it definitely seems like a huge influence on this. Essentially Kiarostami creates a subtle home movie recording a certain place and certain lives. Never once did it feel intrusive or exploitative. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Gripping images & poignant revelations Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Thank you Mr Kiarostami... Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
ABC Africa

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A documentary shot on digital video about the ravages of AIDS and civil war in Uganda. Over the course of his ten-day visit, director Kiarostami comes across many heart-breaking sights. His cameras capture and caress the faces of a thousand children, all orphans, whose parents have died of AIDS. It records tears and laughter, music and silence, life and death. It attests to Africa's sunny resilience to so much suffering and disease.
Director
Abbas Kiarostami
Producer
Abbas Kiarostami, Marin Karmitz
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 3, 2002, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.3K
Runtime
1h 23m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)