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Asmara, Eritrea

Asmara, Eritrea MAIN

Asmara, Eritrea

Price: $320.00
Filmmaker Name: Caterina Borelli
Film Length: 63 min
Film Year: 2008
Duration: 46-75 min
Decade: 2000s
Color: color
Region: Africa
Sharing Discount has been applied

ABOUT

Asmara - capitol of the East African nation of Eritrea - is recognized as an architectural gem. In this film Asmarinos from different walks of life guide us through the streets of their city and bring us to places of their choice. In doing so, and by talking about 'their own' Asmara, each person locates personal memories in public spaces investing the urban environment with individual meanings. Through their narrations - a chorus of different experiences embodying the nation - the country's history from colonialism to independence comes to life.

"Asmara should serve as a model in documenting African cities. Through interviews with local residents, the filmmaker is able to imbue the built environment with life, to evoke the feel of the street and the interrelationship of neighborhoods. 

In particular, the film excels at unpacking a particularly complex 20th century history, which awakens viewers to complex geopolitical forces sparring over the horn of Africa even as it traces the development of a gracious and liveable city." 
— Z. S. Strother, Riggio Professor of African Art, Columbia University, author of Inventing Masks: Agency and History in the Art of the Central Pende

SELECTED SCREENINGS & AWARDS
"Ownership and Appropriation" Conference, University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2008
Muestra de Cine Documental y Etnografico, Puerto Rico, 2009
Association of Social Anthropology UK Conference, Bristol, 2009
International Festival of Archaeological Film, Italy, 2009
Architecture Film Festival, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2009
Days of Ethnographic Film, Moscow, 2009
Visual Africa Series, Museum of African Art, New York, NY, 2010

CREDITS & INFO

Asmara Eritrea 

Written and Produced by
Caterina Borelli

Directed by
Caterina Borelli

Photography by
Caterina Borelli

Interviews by
Mia Fuller

Edited by
Aline Herve’

Soundtrack Design by
Silvia Moraes

Re-recording Mixer
Paolo Segat

Graphics by 
Paolo Turla

Archival Material Research
Caterina Borelli

Production Assistant on Location 
Nora Guicheney

Translations from Tigrinya
Domoz (Asmara) 
Birikit (Rome)

English Text Editing and Translations
Martha Witt

With
Samuel Adem, student
Tekie Adimecom –Tedlla, NGO employee
Robiel Araya, student
Afwerki Arefaine, artist
Socrates Bourboulis, Honorary Consul of Greece
David Cohen, trader
Samy Cohen, accountant
Ermias Ekube, artist
Luisa Furioni Agosti, hairstylist and beautician
Iolanda Gagliazzi, cashier
Father Ghebreigziabihier Negusse
Elsa Gebreyesus, store employee
Lettechidan Ghereschier store owner
Josief Ghetaciew, student
Primo Giovanni, entrepreneur
Kidane Habte, nurse
Simon Haile’, grocery store employee
Fitwi Hailu, security guard and his wife Zemi Gebremikael
Kiriakakos Leonida, retired state employee
Edoardo Matteoda, student
Paola Matteoda, retired professor
Giovanni Mazzola, tailor/gardener/athlete
Rita Mazzocchi, NGO worker
Berhane Mesfin, coffee shop owner
Petros Michael, student
Omer Mohamed, tailor
Said Mohammed Hassan, trader at Caravanserai
Ashrin Kumar Ottamchand Aulani, trader
Frewin Sengal, maid/weaver
Simret Group - Misghana Gilazgi weavers
Tzeggai Teamrat, engineer
Techie Tesfai, bar owner
Tsehaie Tsegai store owner
Tshaytu, Izgaria and Sofia, home makers
Gabriel Tzeggai, architect
Sennait Tzeggai Mogos, student
Aida Tzeggai Mogos, student
Carla Vagli Biasiolo, homemaker
Vittorio Volpicella, director, Casa d’Italia
Ysehak Yosief, retired Municipal employee
Tebbe Wendm, maid/photographer

Songs
Aron “Asmara shkor, Asmara bella”
Alamin Abdelettif “Seb nkabdu aykonen zinebr”
Wedi Zagher “Merhawi”
Trio Lescano “Arriva Tazio” by Mengoli – Trotto, editions Recording Arts SA
A. Galluzzi “Valzer di Frou, Frou” by L. Bard, editions Suvini Zerboni SPA







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