Prendendo spunto da un racconto popolare, il regista Taye Workou presenta un ritratto dell'Etiopia odierna: un paese che sta subendo il lento passaggio dalla tradizione alla modernità. Un padre, il figlio e il loro asino percorrono la strada che collega il villaggio al mercato. Lungo il cammino seguono tutti i consigli delle persone incontrate, anche quelli che sembrano i più assurdi. Ma alla fine del percorso, si rendono conto che la propria testa è sempre il miglior consigliere.

Il video ha vinto premi al Festival di Berlino e al Fespaco 2007.

Etiopia, Francia - 2006

Regia: Daniel Taye Workou
Interpreti: Shewaferaw Dessalegn, Bewketu Belate, Tesfaye Gesesse
Durata: 20'





A lot can happen in the Ethiopian countryside on the long way to the market. A father and his son follow everybody's good advice…and come back to their senses.

Adapted from a traditional Ethiopian Folk Tale, Menged is very much a parable for Ethiopia today: a country in transition between modernism and traditional belief.
After thousands of years of feudalistic rule, more than a decade of Soviet oriented socialism, and finally today a government that adheres to a western-influenced market economy, people in this country of vast cultural heritage are easily confused. Food security strategies under the directive of the World Bank often backfire. Fertilizers and GMO's dumped by Multi-nationals destroy the traditional food security systems of the Ethiopian population consisting to 89% of farmers. Since the end of the socialist government Ethiopia has also become a playground for all kinds of religious movements. Saudi financed Moslem groups are collecting souls as well as mainly American based Protestants. In addition the "free market economy" has produced entrepreneurs inventing all kinds of schemes to make a quick buck or two...





Daniel Taye Workou, Ethiopia, 2006, 32m. In Amharic & Italian.

20 min / 35mm / 1.85 / couleur / colour / Dolby SR
2006 / Ethiopie
Script: Daniel Taye Workou
Image: Ian Blumers
Sound: Clemens Wetteskind
Music: Shanko
Design: Daniel Aklilu, Baye Lakew
Editing: Gregorio Sebastio


v.o : Ethiopien
in : Ethiopian language

Cast : Shewaferaw Dessalegn, Bewkatu Belete


2008 | 15th New York African Film Festival | NEW YORK, Usa | APRIL 9th to MAY 26th | www.africanfilmny.org |
> Selection

Directors' Fortnight, Cannes 2006 (France)
- Official Selection (short films section)