Bobi Wine: The People’s President – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT – Review by Diane Carson

August 17, 2023August 19, 2023 Diane Carson Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Christopher Sharp, documentary, Moses Bwayo, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, Ugandan films, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Codirectors Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo’s documentary Bobi Wine: The People’s President tells a story that, were it fiction, would qualify as a fanciful Hollywood invention. For its subject moves from the slums of Uganda’s capitol Kampala to star status as a reggae-inspired musician to candidate for Ugandan president, then arrested, tortured, and eventually released, ill and lame. Bobi Wine: The People’s President is a tribute to a fearless advocate for democracy and yet another tragic tale of power run amok, too often supported by developed nations.Bobi Wine: The People’s President is a tribute to a fearless advocate for democracy and yet another tragic tale of power run amok, too often supported by developed nations.

Festivals

TRUE/FALSE Film Festival 2023 Wrap – Diane Carson reports

March 6, 2023March 11, 2023 Diane Carson Angel Ellis, Bad Press, Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Feet in Water Head on Fire, Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, Going Varsity in Mariachi, Mvskoke, Three Women

While it is challenging to generalize about such diverse selections, one clear trend is toward more personal immersion in subjects’ lives and identification with their daily experiences as opposed to interpretive, analytical presentations. Films focused in this way rely on a level of involvement or interest in the selected individuals for a compelling work to emerge. Frankly, without more substantial depth of content and context and/or character arc, I found several films this year did not rise to a level of compelling appeal. However, of the sixteen films I saw, most presented excellent insights on serious topics, and three were truly spellbinding.