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All films and photographs have only a limited capacity to convey elements such as the cultures, locations and people featured in the productions. We also don't go to the movies to watch documentaries about the deeper meaning and social understanding of the background culture or countries. It is however extremely unfortunate that so many African countries, nameless to most living outside Africa, now fall under the generalized image created through several film productions. What grieves me the most is the lack of our own film industries here in Africa to take the responsibility on themselves to consider the implications? Our own productions repeatedly attempt to extract sensationalism from our blighted past. Here in South Africa the cruelty exhibited during apartheid, as well as racial tension themes, still feature in local productions time after time after time. No country outside Africa will, or should have to, make it their business promoting and conveying the positive truthful image of Africa.
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