Africa
Africa

Movie spotlight

Africa

2002
Movie
96 min
Czech

The fourteenth Cimrman play takes us to the heart of a continent almost untouched by civilization. Czech travelers encounter a strange tribe of cannibals and almost end up on their menu. The members of this tribe are unusual in two ways: their appearance and their extraordinary docility. These characteristics enabled Cimrman to solve linguistic and staging problems with an elegance that other world playwrights can only envy. If, say, G. B. Shaw had tackled such a theme, the audience would have spent 5 to 7 hours in the auditorium. Cimrman managed to do it in just one hour (not counting the introductory scientific seminar). For the first time in the history of the Jára Cimrman Theater, a live animal appears on stage.

Insights

IMDb5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes40%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users64%
Director: M. Night ShyamalanGenres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A former psychologist, gifted with a unique ability to communicate with the dead, is drawn into a dangerous investigation when a series of inexplicable events plague a small town. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a dark secret that connects the living and the dead in terrifying ways. His quest for truth forces him to confront his own past and the terrifying potential of his powers.

Critical Reception

The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics, who were divided on its psychological depth and narrative execution. Audiences also had a polarized response, with some appreciating its ambitious themes and others finding it convoluted and disappointing compared to Shyamalan's earlier works.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its atmospheric tension and the performances of its lead actors.

  • Criticized for a predictable plot and a lack of the suspense found in Shyamalan's previous films.

  • Deemed by some as an overly ambitious and ultimately unsatisfying supernatural thriller.

Google audience: Audiences were largely divided, with many appreciating the film's attempts at a thought-provoking narrative and strong acting. However, a significant portion found the storyline to be predictable and not living up to the director's prior successes.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The film was originally conceived as a sequel to Shyamalan's 1999 film "The Sixth Sense", with the character of Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) intended to return, but the concept was later changed.

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