List of Movies About Africa and/or Set in Africa
Movie Name
A Far Off Place
African Queen
Amistad
Battle of Algiers
Beyond Borders
Black and White in Color
Black Hawk Down
Blood Diamond
Cry Freedom
Cry Freetown
God Grew Tired of Us
Gorrillas in the Mist
Greystoke: The Legend of
Tarzan
Guelwaar
Hatari!
Heart of Darkness
Hotel Rwanda
Hunting My Husband’s
Killers
I Dreamed of Africa
Khartoum
King Solomon’s Mines
The Last King of Scotland
Mama Africa: Growing Up
Urban
Mogambo
Nowhere in Africa
Out of Africa
Safarina
Sometimes in April
Tears of the Sun
The Constant Gardener
The Flame Trees of Thika
The Ghost and the
Darkness
The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Last Safari
The Sheltering Sky
White Hunter Black Heart
Rate
Date
FeaturedCountry Genre
PG
NR
R
NR
R
NR
R
R
PG
1993
1951
1997
1965
2003
1976
2001
2006
1987
1999
2007
Nambia, Zimbabwe
Uganda, Congo
West Africa
Algeria
Nambia
Africa
Morocco
S. Africa, Mozambique
Kenya, Zimbabwe
Sierra Leone
Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya
PG
PG 13 1988
PG
1984
NR
1993
1962
PG 13 2004
PG 13 2000
NR
1966
NR
1950
Kenya
Cameroon
Family adventure/drama
Classic adventure
Epic drama
Action drama
Romantic drama
Oscar winner, comedy
Action drama
Action drama
Biographical drama
Documentary
Documentary of “Lost Boys”
of Sudan
Drama
It’s Tarzan!
Senegal
Tanzania
Congo
South Africa
Rwanda
Murder mystery
Adventure, John Wayne!
Historical drama
True story drama
Drama
South Africa, Kenya
Sudan
Kenya, Tanzania,
Congo, Uganda
Uganda
Nambia, Nigeria, South
Africa
Romantic drama
Epic story
Adventure
Clark Gable, Grace Kelly!
Autobiographical drama
Classic drama, romance
Musical
Drama
Action war movie
Romantic thriller
Family drama
Action drama
Action comedy
Adventure
Drama
Clint Eastwood directs
R
NR
2006
2001
NR
R
PG
1953
2002
1985
NR
R
R
NR
R
2005
2003
2005
1981
1996
Africa
Kenya
Kenya
South Africa
Rwanda
Nigeria
Kenya
Kenya
South Africa, Kenya
PG
1980
1967
1990
1990
Botswana
Kenya
Niger, Algeria, Morocco
Uganda, Congo
R
PG
BLUE= Lloydie owns
Drama
3 shorts directed by African
Women
YELLOW= Lloydie does NOT own
Movie Reviews and/or Comments:
A Far Off Place- Family adventure/drama from Disney Pictures(!) Shot in Namibia and Zimbabwe.
African Queen- A classic adventure featuring Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, directed by John Huston. Filmed on
location in Uganda and the Congo, the movie is about a drunken riverboat captain (Bogart) who takes a missionary spinster (Hepburn)
on board his boat and much adventure and banter ensues.
Amistad- Steven Spielberg's epic drama about the west African slave Cinque and his struggle for freedom, which takes place in
an American courtroom.
Battle of Algiers- The Algerian civil war viewed from both grim sides. The Algerians sought independence as all other
African countries in the sixties - and as most other places the French government hit back very hard. The shocking and dramatic story
is historically correct and brutal. The film has changed many peoples opinions about what was going on in the colonies and it was also
easy to draw parallels to the war in Vietnam. When viewed today is difficult not to think about the American involvement in Iraq.
Today Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo.
Beyond Borders- Romantic drama about relief/aid workers in the world's dangerous conflict zones including a refugee
camp in Ethiopia in the 80's. The movie established Angelina Jolie's profile as a goodwill ambassador of UNHCR. Well-meaning, but
not really interesting and several details seems a bit unrealistic. Too little political facts and insight and too much romance for my
taste, but it seems the movie has also been an eye-opener for many. The Africa part of the movie is filmed on location in Namibia.
Black and White in Color- Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. An comedy about the madness of war and racism.
French settlers in an African country finds out that war has broke out in Europe. They start mobilizing the Africans to fight their
neighbors in the German colony. Very recommendable. Winner of the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Foreign Language Film. The
DVD comes along with an old, but interesting documentary about an expedition to Papau New Guinea.
Black Hawk Down- This is not really a film about Africa -in fact this film is almost without a story at all (The main part of
the story is told in title cards). The purpose of the film must be to show how it is to be in war: no reflections or deep insight, but two
hours+ of brutality and very bloody killing. The film recreates the disastrous mission in Mogadishu (October 3, 1993) that resulted in
the death of 19 American soldiers. The Americans withdrew from Somalia shortly after this incident. It is briefly mentioned in a endtitle card that more than 1000 Somalis were killed in the battle, but this film only shows the Somali population as a faceless screaming,
violent, murderous mass. Okay not fair: I guess the movie has a total of about 50 seconds showing scared children and women, a father
with dead son and son with a dead father. Director Ridley Scott avoids all the political questions that could have made this into
something special. According to the film (and the book behind it), the generals are to blame of the terrible mistakes made on this day.
But the horrible ending that insists that we (incl. Somalians) should see the American soldiers as heroes surely brings a bad taste.
Technically "Black hawk Down" is impressive and very well made. It was filmed partly on location in Morocco
Blood Diamond- Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly
The theme of conflict (blood) diamonds financing African wars is of huge importance. The problem is not new, but it seems this film
has been a “wake up call” for many and finally brought the world's attention to the problem. Hats off for that, but still the film could
have told a better story and it could have been politically stronger. The movie wants it all, but is caught up somewhere in between. It
can be seen as good entertainment-action (if the violence doesn't get too much for you) but personally I find it difficult to sympathize
with the story's main protagonist at all. The character played by Leonardo DiCaprio is a greedy, selfish mercenary and I simply don't
like him ...even though he might “redeem” his sins in the unlikely end of the movie. The romance with the female journalist is
uninteresting, and the real hero of the movie (the African) is only described as a subordinate character. The movie has managed to
provoke a strong reaction from the diamond industry, but it could actually have been much stronger in its criticism of the industry and
the Western hypocrisy. It is unclear what part the American plays in the story, but in the final scene he makes a phony speech about
our obligation to do something about the problems. All in all ...this movie is still one of the better Hollywood attempts in describing
African conflicts. The organizations Global Witness and Amnesty International has been involved in the creation of the movie. Visit
the campaign website www.blooddiamondaction.org Filmed on location in South Africa and Mozambique.
Cry Freedom- Denzel Washington portrays the South African activist Steven Biko in this movie directed by Richard
Attenborough. Filmed on location in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Cry Freetown- An incredible documentary by Sorious Samura which informed the world about the terrible events taking
place in Sierra Leone in 1999.
God Grew Tired of Us- Explores the indomitable spirit of three “Lost Boys” from the Sudan who are forced to leave
their homeland due to a tumultuous civil war. The documentary chronicles their triumph over seemingly insurmountable adversities
and a re-location to America. An extremely poignant story of courageous young men.
Gorrillas in the Mist- Based on the true story of scientist Dian Fossey who settles in the Congolese jungle to study and
protect mountain gorillas. Sigourney Weaver stars in this movie, an above average for Hollywood-Africa dramas. Filmed in Kenya.
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan- The story of Tarzan has been told since the earliest days of filmmaking.
Some times good, some times bad. Greystoke is at least a little different and it has its great moments also. Hugh Hudson directed a cast
of Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm, James Fox, Andie MacDowell and of course Christopher Lambert as Greystoke/Tarzan. Noone is
really up to their very best in this film, but it is beautifully shot on location in Cameroon.
Guelwaar- A beautiful movie written and directed by Ousmane Sembene one of Africa's best film makers. Set in Senegal, this
murder mystery unfolds around the death of a district leader whose family gathers for the funeral.
Hatari!- Adventure film with John Wayne, directed by Howard Hawks. A group of men are making their living from trapping
animals and selling them to zoo's in Europe and America. A woman shows up. She is a wildlife photographer and questions the men’s
methods. Exiting, entertaining and good action scenes, but no more. Filmed mainly in the national parks of Tanzania. "Hatari" is the
swahili word for danger.
Heart of Darkness- This is the famous book by Joseph Conrad which also inspired Apocalypse Now. This film can not
compete with the Coppola masterpiece, but it has more to offer if you are interested in the brutal history of Congo. Tim Roth is sent up
to the Congo River to find out what happened to the station manager Kurtz (played by John Malkowich). Isaach De Bankolé (from
Chocolat) is also among the cast. The film is directed by Nicolas Roeg (director of Don't Look Now a.o.)
Hotel Rwanda- 'Hotel Rwanda' is difficult to watch due to it's subject, but it is also a very good movie. We are taken (only!)
10 years back in time to the genocide in Rwanda: a million people were slaughtered in only 3 months. The victims were unarmed men,
women and children guilty in nothing else than belonging to the "wrong" ethnic group. So... No, it's no fun watching, but actually a
touching and important movie that ought to have a big audience. The movie is "designed" to shaming us of the fact that the West didn't
do anything to stop the bloodshed until it was too late -and this is exactly what it does. Luckily the director helps the audience through
by choosing to tell one of the few positive stories, which actually leaves us with a bit of hope. The movie is based on a true-life Hero:
the Rwandanese hotel manager, Paul Rusesabagina, who actually managed to save his own family and several hundred other lives
against all odds. This was a remarkable achievement and according to this movie Paul Rusesabagina is a truly remarkable man. He has
said that everything shown in the movie is correct and shown exactly as it happened. Paul Rusesabagina opened the doors at the luxury
hotel for refugees whether they were Tutsis or Hutus. In the hotel they awaited rescue by the UN forces. But help from the outside
world didn’t come to the people of Rwanda, and UN only evacuated the foreigners. Unfortunately I think the film lost a bit of its
credibility because of the English dialogue and the American-style of story telling. I would have preferred to have the characters speak
French and Kinyarwanda for authenticity. I found it a bit too obvious that the film's couple behaved more like an American family
than an African in their private relations and I could also have done without most of the music score. I am happy though that the
producers dropped their idea of actually casting Wesley Snipes or Will Smith for the leading role (it was actually considered). Don
Cheadle IS giving a great performance in the main part. All in all the movie IS very strong and takes complete control of us when we
are shown some of the worst and best humans can do to each other. I can't remember the last time i saw an audience so quiet and
affected by a movie. Go see it -or buy it on DVD. But this one is not for children! Starring Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte
and Joaquin Phoenix. Directed by Terry George. Filmed on location in South Africa.
Hunting My Husband’s Killers- Lesley Bilinda is determined to track down the killers of her Rwandan husband,
Charles, who disappeared during the 1994 genocide, in which up to a million people died. When she returns to Rwanda, where she
lived and worked with the charity Tearfund, Lesley faces a web of deception and fear, and uncovers unexpected and unpalatable truths
about her husband. Like thousands of other genocide widows she grapples with the inner turmoil of loss and betrayal, but is also
challenged to forgive those responsible and practically live out her faith.
I Dreamed of Africa- Hugh Hudson's movie is based on an autobiographic book by Italian Kuki Gallmann.. A modern
day version of Out of Africa not adding much. A "romantic drama" about an European couples settling in Kenya (in 1972) and their
struggles with their new home. A bit of a yawn, as movies trying hard to tell "true stories" often are. Hollywood star Kim Basinger
plays Kuki, but is left with nothing to do throughout most of the story. Maybe the real Kuki Gallman is a fascinating/extraordinary
person, but we won't know from this movie. You will learn nothing new about life in Kenya, but you can always enjoy the African
scenery. Filmed on location in South Africa and Laikipia, Kenya.
Khartoum- Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier stars in this epic story of colonial Brits fight against Islamic rebels in Sudan.
Don't expect a film intended history classroom. Great style of "Lawrence of Arabia", but it doesn't quite reach the same level.
King Solomon’s Mines- The best of the Solomon movies. Story is the same: Qartermain falling in love with the woman
he is guiding through the wild and dangerous Africa. Starring Deboarh Kerr and Stewart Granger. Good adventure entertainment and
quite impressive action sequences for the time. Filmed spectacularly on location in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo and USA.
Last King of Scotland-Despite its title, the movie is set in Uganda during the 70's horror-regime of dictator Idi Amin.
The movie follows Amin's personal physician and his growing moral dilemmas. A young Scottish doctor goes to Africa in search of
adventure and with a wonderful (rare!) open mind. But gets himself a bit too close to the action. Amin gets a personality and as the
physician, we (the audience) is tempted to like him though he was no doubt a psychopath killer. The horror and violence are not
ignored, but described in a way that makes it possible to watch the movie. The storyline about the doctor is not a "true story" but
nevertheless a good story telling many truths. Great movie with a fantastic performance by Forrest Whitaker. The description of the
European man meeting Africa is very different, free from prejudices and far better than seen in most other movies. Filmed on location
in UK and Uganda. Watch it!
Mama Africa: Growing Up Urban- Few feature-length African films get released in the U.S., so it's rare indeed to
get to see worthy short films from that vast continent. Mama Africa consists of three such films--all directed by women--and actressmusician Queen Latifah introduces each one. The first, Bridget Pickering's "Uno's World," is from Namibia and centers around Uno
(Sophie David), a 25-year-old party girl who falls for a commitment-shy criminal and gives birth to his child. Ngozi Onwurah's "Hang
Time" is from Nigeria and concerns poor but promising basketball player Kwami (Brian Birogi), who makes a Faustian deal for a new
pair of sneakers. Lastly, Zulfah Otto-Sullies's "Raya," from South Africa, portrays the difficulties facing a single mother attempting to
go straight after a stint in prison. All three films present universally difficult moral quandaries that aren't always satisfactorily resolved,
but are well acted by talented performers. Includes three bonus short films: Bintou (by Fanta Nacro, 2001), Riches (by Ingrid Sinclair,
2001), One Evening in July (by Raja Amari, 2001) Refreshing different views on filmmaking from Africa. Professional and very
recommendable!
Mogambo- Directed by John Ford. A great Hollywood cast of Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly.
Nowhere in Africa- Based on a true story (autobiographical novel by Stephanie Zweig) of a Jewish family who flees the
Nazi regime in 1938 for a remote farm in Kenya. After being oppressed in Germany, they are in risk of becoming oppressors
themselves. Written and directed by Caroline Link. The movie won the 2002 Academy Award for best foreign language film.
Out of Africa- With Meryl Streep, Robert Redford and Klaus Maria Brandauer. Big Hollywood movie about the Danish
Author Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) and her life as a coffee farmer in Kenya. Great pictures, dramatic and with a welltold story, but
most of all typical Hollywood-style story from the beautiful and colorful Africa: The white people enjoys life with tea, horseriding and
safaris with Mozart on the turntable. No, or very small, effort is put in describing the lives of the true owners of the Kenyan country,
who had to pay the price of the shameless behaviour of the colonists.
Safarina- Musical about the schoolgirl Sarafina in apartheid South Africa. Starring Leleti Khumalo as Sarafina and also with
Miriam Makeba and Whoopie Goldberg. A film that touched many people and informed well about the apartheid regime. Maybe a
little more "Hollywood" than Africa in the style and storytelling.
Sometimes in April- Another movie about the genocide in Rwanda. Sometimes in April is directed by Raoul Peck who
also made Lumumba. The movie is shot on location in Rwanda and stars Idris Elba, Oris Erhuero, Noah Emmerich, Fraser James,
Debra Winger and more.
Tears of the Sun- Patriotic, action-war movie about US soldier (Bruce Willis) sent to a Nigeria haunted by unrest and civil
war to rescue a self-sacrificing doctor (Monica Bellucci). The professional American soldiers witness a gruesome massacre on a
defenseless village, grows a conscience, and decides to do it the American way. The soldiers decide to help Nigeria even if it isn't
"their war" and in the end the African people can thank the Americans for their freedom. The film is also produced "the American
way": astonishing photography, grand emotions and lots of explosions and background music. As the tough soldier, Bruce Willis has
only one face-expression throughout the film, and he manages to sum up the whole continent in a pseudo-deep one-liner: "God has
already left Africa". The movie might be pretty good entertainment if you can look away from everything else, but it is not doing any
good to the stereotypic image of Africa which often comes from Hollywood. It is very unrealistic and in movies like this, Africans are
portrayed simply as weak victims or evil murderers. I don't think there is any reference to a specific war or conflict in Nigeria. USA
has plenty of questionable oil interests in the country, but none of this is being touched in the movie and there seem to be no specific
reason that Nigeria was chosen as the scene of crime.
The Constant Gardner- Romantic thriller by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles (City of God) based on the bestselling novel by British author John Le Carré. The movie is about foul play by the pharmaceutical industry and takes place mainly in
Kenya, where it was also shot. The book was something of an eye-opener about the pharmaceutical industry and their involvement in
Africa. Don't miss this great movie starring Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Hubert Koundé and more.
The Flame Trees of Thika- Popular TV-series based on the autobiographic book by Elspeth Huxley. Filmed on
location in Kenya. The series is in 7 episodes. "Flame Trees of Thika" is a production made for TV. The photography is okay,
storytelling straight forward and the actors perform well, but not really great. Still the episodes are well worth seeing also today as they
give an interesting view into the life of some of the first European settlers in East Africa. And this is described better here than in most
of the Hollywood dramas with the same subject. .Almost all stories from the early settlers has some naive and semi-racist views on the
Africans. These opinions are expressed through the characters in "Flame Trees...", but the film/director always manage to argue
against them. More than once it ends up with the Europeans learning dignity and humanity from the Africans, whom they feel superior
to. The British family deals very good with some difficult situations in their new home. Other challenges are handled really badly and
that's making the story more credible. "Flame Trees..." is intended for a family audience and too much time is spent with Elspeth's love
for animals and especially her pet Duiker. The difficult relationship between the two leading African men on the farm is far more
interesting than a herd of elephants. The weakest chapters are the ones about animals and the strongest are about relationships and
intrigues played out between people.
The Ghost and the Darkness- This action drama is based on a true story from 1898, when the British were
constructing the railroad through Kenya (view photos from Kenya). Man-eating lions killed several workers and British engineers. The
movie describes the Africans with the same ignorance as common hundred years ago, but it is still good old-fashioned action. Val
Kilmer and Michael Douglas stars in the movie, which is shot on location in South Africa and Kenya
The Gods Must Be Crazy 1 & 2- Bushmen, schoolteachers and gangsters in an action-comedy written and directed
by Jamie Uys. The story starts when a pilot throws away an empty Coca Cola bottle when over-flying Botswana. The bottle hits a
bushman who wonders why the Gods gave him this strange gift. After experiencing the dark side of modern technology, he sets out to
find the end of the world and throw away the bottle. Not big art, but very funny indeed. Complete with a dry (but hilllarious) narrator,
lousy music, slapstick comedy, fast-motion sequences and cheap technical tricks, a clumsy white scientist and finally a bushman who
turns out to be the real hero. Most people who have seen it never stops loving it and seeing it again and again. .The film was followed
by a sequel in 1988 which almost reaches the same level. Again the bushman Xi is starring together with a bunch of so-called civilized
people. The story takes off when the two children of Xi disappear and he wanders of to search for them. Several more sequels has
since been released but not from the original producers. One of them is a Chinese (!) film called "Fei zhou he shang". The Chinese
people in this story crash in Africa and ends up in the same Bushman village we know so good. What a crazy idea.
The Last Safari- Stewart Granger is once again the great white hunter. He is hunting a giant elephant which killed his best
friend. Filmed on location in Kenya and directed by Henry Hathaway.
The Sheltering Sky- Debra Winger and John Malkovich stars in this film by director Bernardo Betolucci. AnAamerican
couple travels in North Africa in search of new inspiration for their art and most of all for their life together. New doors are opened as
they move into Africa, but they seem to take the couple further apart from themselves and each other. Fantastic photography filmed on
location in Morocco, Niger, Algeria.
White Hunter Black Heart- Directed by Clint Eastwood and this is far better than Dirty Harry.
The movie is based on a novel by Peter Viertel. It is about Peter Viertel and John Huston's experiences filming 'The African Queen' on
location in Africa. Starring Clint Eastwood as John Wilson/John Huston.