K'NAAN

I just got in from a screening of Haile Gerima's new movie.  If you don't know who professor Gerima is, he is a legendary film director, who's work includes Cannes Classic: Harvest 3000 Years, and the hugely celebrated Sankofa. The movie I saw tonight was called Teza, meaning "Morning Dew" although as Mr Gerima said, "hard to say in English".  I just want to tell you all that I was sincerely moved. The world feels like it exists for art. A true artist's discontent reveals itself in the genuine compassion of his or her art.

Afterwards, I sat at a table to have dinner with the director, at which point, I said no more than one sentence the entire time. There is justice in that silence. The horn of Africa has the deepest wells humanity has ever dug to find the truest sentiments that describe the world and what it contains. And he shows it in film.

If you are interested in experiencing some of what I'm feeling right now.. and you happen to be in the Toronto area... please, catch these screenings. There are only 3 left. This film should win the best foreign film at the Oscars, but rarely are they known for great taste. That and Haile Germa's moon sized dignity, with the distance that spans us and 'it' as integrity.  He just will not play Hollywood's game to create inferior work, and that is why it is so inspiring for me to have watched his work, and hear him speak.

Here's the info.

Bloor Cinema 506 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1Y3, Canada
(416) 516-2331
Fri Feb 6th - 7:00 pm
Sat Feb 7th - 6:30pm & 9:30pm
Sun Feb 8th - 4:00pm

Peace,
K'naan