Films A-Z
Raising the Flag
Pandisha Bendera
Petna Ndaliko Katondolo / Congo / 2007 / 30 min.
The Congolese filmmaker Petna Ndaliko Katondolo is primarily known for his experimental pictures in which he succeeds in producing an original combination of old African traditions and a modern film aesthetic. This short documentary from the eastern part of the Congo also oscillates between the boundaries of experimentation, a film survey and traditional election reporting. The brutal authenticity of passionate political discussions between people on the streets, the ever-present desire for a free country, and the unconcealed fear of further attacks by the rebel forces of Laurent Nkunda linger long in the memory. Raising the Flag is a short, unique opportunity to get a colourful behind-the-scenes look at the watershed elections of 2006 from the point of view of ordinary people, who stand in endless lines in front of polling stations, fanning themselves with ballot papers in the dusty heat.