Return Of A President - Smiles & Crossed Arms
Quick Thoughts: Return of a President (2017)
Made by Lotte Mik-Meyer, this is the Malagasy film of the series
Return of a President is a short documentary giving minor personal insight into the trials of Marc Ravalomanana. Ravalomanana was, in 2002, the first democratically elected president of Madagascar. In 2009, he was deposed by a military coup. Return of a President documents his failed attempts to return to his nation and re-install democracy. This is then a most fascinating insight into small-scale, intricate geopolitics. We are not allowed unbridled access into Ravalomanana's personal bubble, but are instead allowed to observe from a professional and controlled distance. Given access to pointless meetings and professional conversations, we grow to see the tiresome venture that is politics. We are painted a picture of the practice as a series of exchanges between figures whispering through smiles hidden by crossed arms. One could maybe want to ask more from director, Lotte Mik-Meyer, as her approach to interviews is slightly awkward and unrevealing at times. She provides a sometimes comical counterpoint to Ravalomanana, worried where he is reservedly persistent. Such only emphasises the absurdity of Madagascar's political situation, however, and furthermore the subtly heroic perseverance and fearlessness of Ravalomanana. In total the content of Return of a President is deeply fascinating. I recommend you give the film a watch.
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Before The Rain - Pretence & Mimesis
More from me:
amazon.com/author/danielslack
Return of a President is a short documentary giving minor personal insight into the trials of Marc Ravalomanana. Ravalomanana was, in 2002, the first democratically elected president of Madagascar. In 2009, he was deposed by a military coup. Return of a President documents his failed attempts to return to his nation and re-install democracy. This is then a most fascinating insight into small-scale, intricate geopolitics. We are not allowed unbridled access into Ravalomanana's personal bubble, but are instead allowed to observe from a professional and controlled distance. Given access to pointless meetings and professional conversations, we grow to see the tiresome venture that is politics. We are painted a picture of the practice as a series of exchanges between figures whispering through smiles hidden by crossed arms. One could maybe want to ask more from director, Lotte Mik-Meyer, as her approach to interviews is slightly awkward and unrevealing at times. She provides a sometimes comical counterpoint to Ravalomanana, worried where he is reservedly persistent. Such only emphasises the absurdity of Madagascar's political situation, however, and furthermore the subtly heroic perseverance and fearlessness of Ravalomanana. In total the content of Return of a President is deeply fascinating. I recommend you give the film a watch.
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Previous post:
Before The Rain - Pretence & Mimesis
More from me:
amazon.com/author/danielslack
