The Bad Mexican is a 2017 comedy (short film) written and directed by Loukman Ali, the first Ugandan to have a movie featured on Netflix. The film opens with the caption: "Unfortunately this is a true story..." plus skylines of Kampala City. It stars Adnan Senkumba who plays Kenneth Senkumba, a man with a dream to submit his award-worthy script entitled "The Bad Mexican" to an influential producer at the Masters Music office so that he can make loads of money. He dreams that it will be more than enough to refund Moses (played by Joel Okuyo Atiku - musician Cinderella Sanyu's husband who brings Lugbara to this flick) in full and also enjoy himself at the beach with girls. Despite paying the Lugbara 'thug' for the past eight months, the money keeps accumulating. Ken owes him $300 and he always collects... The film is largely in English and Luganda though plus the Director is not a Lugbara...
Across Mt. Wati is a 2024 Westnilewood fictional drama (film story penned by Anthen Asiimwe and) directed by Ronald Avas. Screenplay contributors included Emmanuel Osuzi Ayikobua (Jan Allan Osuzi who was also Production Manager) alongside Jimmy Andama and Jimmy Ojaku. It features Mountain Wati which is very sacred in Lugbara mythology because an ancestor named Dribidu (Banyale) settled, married plus was buried there. Some scenes were filmed at night for several hours near a graveyard and upward travel was done on foot. The movie premiered at Tropical Suites Hotel in Arua City on Saturday 2nd November 2024 and stars Yusuf Opingopi Andabati (aka Andy an Arua media personality), Hope Letasi, Asunta Sakaru, Sandra Giramia, Hakim Aliku (best known as Kim Nazz Atinga, the Arua One FM presenter who starred in Save The Marriage [film]), John Bosco Asibuku (Jeybee Pop Auden) plus other actors. AMW showcases Lugbara handicrafts eg women's tanure dress made from leaves, men's animal skin fashion, a'buka [baby suncover], grinding stone, ari [drum], bow and arrows, etc. A respected town leader's reputation is tarnished after impregnating a mentally ill woman named Maturu (played by Hope) and neglecting his responsibilities. Pressured by his community, Patrick Edema ultimately seeks forgiveness and cultural cleansing from the elders at Mt. Wati in Terego. There's a man who lives across Mountain Wati...
Vanity is a Justin Mubarack production in conjunction with G-Code Films and Nile Base Movies. Joel (aka Devilman played by Tyzak the Machinery) goes to a witchdoctor (nicknamed Wiseman) and gets a charm that kills his only young brother Miskini (played by Jay Solane) because of the land left by their father Charles Adriko. Mercy loses her friend Joy (Jacob's daughter) as they go to collect firewood simply because Joel heard her gossiping about him. He tries to woo Grace (his brother's widow) but she sends him away. Joel goes to the "Wise One" to make her blind. Elders go to Joel's house early morning to find out the truth but he denies all accusations saying, "When a cock gets drunk, it forgets the hawk. Death does not sound a trumpet!" Joel chases the elders from his compound. He asks Aweko to be his wife; she accepts for the sake of her future. Four hours later, Joel goes to sleep with her at the brother's house. He places a powdery charm in her brother's route but Anguyo sidesteps it. Anguyo praises his sister for cooking like their mother. Four days later, he meets Pastor Job while returning from Church, takes him to his home, introduces his sister and tells her to bring for them fruits. Anguyo briefs Job about the evil they are trying to fight. Joel is so wicked that the youth are afraid to confront him but form an Intercessors Group at Church. Job organises a 4-day fast for Joel and the witchdoctor while staying with Anguyo... Appreciation in the making of this flick goes to the Community of Ociba (Arua suburb)...
Okutre is a Fireworks Films Arua plus Sauti Skits & Drama Lugbara flick directed by Ivan Osutaa about a "sharp, intelligent, brilliant" student (role played by Assistant Director, Location Scout and Production Manager Bryan Calvin) at Arua Demonstration School (Mvara with the motto: Gain After Struggle) who impregnates two girls around the same time. A skyblue and white painted sign in the school reads: Never tease boys about erections! Tony Asiku (aka Tony Blicks) played Mr. Vector, the mathematics teacher. Both pregnant girls are marched away from home separately by their families amidst slaps and kicks; classmate Letasi (Allen Peace) is brought after the other girl (Faida Comfort) and also abandoned at the home of Okutre's father Afayo (played by opinion leader Michael Amaria). The old man tells his son who initially denies knowing the first girl, before more beatings from the mob until he admits knowing her only once, that as a punishment he will use the money meant for school fees to take care of the two expectant mothers; Okutre's unmarried, boobilicious sister (played by Flora Draru) orders both girls to leave their home but they have nowhere to go. Meanwhile, Okutre will now have to dig with his father in the garden to get more food. Ridiculed by the village drunkard (Bosco Abiyo who also handled the film's lighting) plus former schoolmates whom he taught Mathematics, Okutre - while returning from the garden behind his father - cries and decides to end his psychological problems by hanging himself with a rope he ties to a mango tree branch. Letasi's elder brother finds a dying Okutre accidentally, saves him and supports his walk to the clinic where the doctor advises Okutre's father to send his son back to school. He adds that after giving birth, the girls should also return to school. The film ends with a monologue of Okutre swearing that he will not disappoint his father again until he becomes a lawyer. Mama Letasi is played by Judith Alum while her sons are portrayed by Ronny Orijabo and Brian Mungufeni. Mercy Aleni is the nurse at Medics Day Care Clinic. Other actors included Rachael Asizu, Denis Cika, Sofia Frank, Innocent Obeti, Joseph Erima (as Njuko), Kennedy Akim, Rachael Amaniyo, Barbara Aitasi, Alice Viola, Florence Atai, Pascal Adukule, Fortunate Lindaco, Doreen Asianzu and Lucky Mungufeni. Paul Banduni Dratia was the Executive Producer. Special thanks go to the family of Mr. Hillary Asega and MB Records, not forgetting the Almighty GOD...
Quick Money Sweetness centers around the life of three unemployed university graduates, desperate for financial stability and fame, who get lured into a world of ritualism by a charismatic and wealthy gentleman engaged to a pastor's daughter. The plan fails due to the spiritual intervention of the pastor who prays for his daughter and her marriage. The film stars Anthen Asiimwe, Ronny Leku, Jimmy Andama, Yusuf Andabati Opingopi, Hope Letasi, Joseph Edema, Grace Munduru, Mickdad "Paps" Totia among others...
Teenage Pregnancy is a Fireworks Arua plus Sauti Skits & Drama short film directed by Toniel Banks about the dangers of abortion. Starring Bryan Calvin (writer) as British, his best friend Jojo (played by Ham Geoffrey) who presented the herbs to British for his girlfriend to "chew, chew, chew and chew" plus Jacent (acted by Achen Esther Queen) as the expectant young woman in school uniform, the opening scene was filmed by Feni at Jershem Hotel on Weatherhead Park Lane, a few hundreds of metres down east from the Arua Post Office. Involved in the film was the Human Rights Commission...
The Devil is a Lier is a Global Film Makers (Yumbe) Lugbara supernatural drama filmed in Aringa language (Lugbara dialect spoken northeast of Arua District). The ominous soundtrack at the beginning is absolutely fitting. Filming was done on location at Gogo Road adjacent to Rhema Medical Clinic Yumbe. Do not mind the spelling of lier, it should be that way anyway because it looks better than liar [inzo'ba in Lugbara which was what the priest invited to pray for the possessed man's family by his wife called the Devil]! In this short film which is less than half an hour long, all the four colours of witchcraft, wizardry and sorcery (white, red in the attire of agents, black in Lucifer's gown and purple on his fingernails) are featured well plus the Devil who wants to control humanity using money wears a hat with two horns. He is presented with the sacrifice of a boy under 15 years of age. Satan can teleport from the Underworld to Earth at will and so do his worshippers. The power of JESUS represented by a Bible in the hands of praying Christians overcomes him in the end and he flees. To GOD be the glory...
Save the Marriage is a 70 minute Nile Base Movies (along with G-Cube Media and Believe Media) drama starring radioman Kim Nazz as the abusive husband Chris(topher), Sherry Zania (who chose the film's music) as his wife Jenny and another radio presenter Man Patto (Location Manager) as his friend Emma. Legendary Arua Singer Leila Chandiru makes a late cameo as Jenny's mother named Deborah. Jenny works for an oil company, but Chris orders her to stop working and stay home as soon as possible after advice from his buddy Emma who did the same thing in order to control his girlfriend Flavia. Jenny wonders, "What did I go to school for?". Another evening, Emma introduces Chris to his unmarried business partner Joan at Danny's birthday party and the two start up a relationship after Chris lies to her that he is also single. Meanwhile, Jenny stays home to cook, wash and clean. Despite her best efforts though, Chris is not appreciative of his wife at all and even slaps her for lying about who dropped her at the gate after visiting her friend Stella, rejects her food many times and rebukes her more than once as boring, mad and stupid. One night at around 3 AM, the well endowed buxom Jenny tries to seduce Chris to give her a baby like he had earlier mentioned but he gives excuses about having work to do in the morning and later walks out of their bedroom. Jenny asks, "Are we not married?" The following day, Jenny calls her mother to tell how her guy is treating her and Deborah exclaims, "Even boxes you? JESUS Christ!" Chris finds Jenny and confronts her again, "Whom are you talking to? Does your mum have a phone, since when?" Chris grabs her handset and smashes it on the floor, "You're still a liar!" Fed up with the marriage plus sick and tired of her husband, Jenny signs divorce papers and leaves them on the table. She tells Chris (whom she refers to as The Monster, Puncher, Wife-beater) sitted outside the apartment with his laptop to make sure he signs, but he gets up and tries to stop her from walking out the gate, "Baby, am sorry!" To be continued... Justin Mubarack was the Director of Photography, Assistant Director and Producer. Birthday friends were Joseph Madira, Phillip and Charity. Places appreciated included Tripplex Hotel (Pajulu), Heartland Cottages, Rose Villa Hotel, etc...
Candia the Orphan starring Jimmy Ojaku is about a man who goes through hardship until a job breakthrough...
The JESUS Film Project (1979) in High Lugbara Language is the best example of what possibilities are available for crossover translations. Originally made in English, the Lugbara version amuses me because the JESUS character seems to speak only my mother tongue throughout, well synced with surround recordings and theme soundtracks like other foreign movies. HE is not only the King of the Jews, but Lugbara too. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that: YESU Kristo ni Opi; diza MUNGU ni [Lugbara Translate: JESUS Christ is Lord; glory to GOD]...
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Face of Love is a 2023 murder story starring Yusuf Opingopi Andabati who composes a heartfelt love song with his pen and guitar but later turns against his love when she tells him of her pregnancy...
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Other Lugbaflix:
The Mystery
Big Spender (2014 film)
Tears of the Innocent Man
Face of Love (2023)
6 Days of Success
Forest of Helpless Women
My Prayer (Swalaaty)
Strength of a Woman
The Innocent Criminal (2024 film)
Wanna Be Celeb (2018)
Breaking the Silence (short film)
Aniku [I Don't Know] (Sauti skit)
Wrong Turn (Sauti skit)
The Heartless Stepmother Killed My Mother
Faith Without Action is Dead
Fate of a Cheater
...
Lugbatoons (Lugbara Cartoons)
One humid dusk in Arua before the 9pm Covid-19 lockdown curfew, I spotted a friend's young daughter watching Spanish cartoons courtesy of YouTube on her mother's smartphone and wondered if she was understanding the language. I'm not saying she cannot learn Spanish but she might have clicked on the video randomly because of the thumbnail. When I got back home, I drew 2D Cartoons in Lugbara like Double Happy-iness...
Aiko's Top 22 Movies of All Time
1. The King of Kings (1927 silent film) was less sanctimonious because H. B. Warner - the man who played JESUS - fasted while acting that role. Another Cecil B. DeMille blockbuster - The 10 Commandments and Ben Hur also have a great aura...
2. Hard Target (1993) was my Number 1 film for many years; it's an allusion to the Devil and his war against humans, he moves around like a wolf or hungry lion looking for whom to devour...
3. She's All That (1999) summarises life in the 90s...
4. Deep Blue Sea is a film genre I fancy where humans fight other creatures together instead of hurting themselves...
5. Black Hawk Down (2001), based on the reallife 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (Somalia), is my favourite war film simply because only 100 (not 300) American soldiers came to arrest instead of destroy but ended up defending themselves quite well when outnumbered by the skinnies; about 19 soldiers were killed in The Mog: Leave no man behind! Film starts somberly but spills over uncontrollably into two hours of nonstop gunshots; "Irene, freaking Irene..."
6. I, Robot is the Best of Oscar-worthy Will Smith...
7. Passion of the Christ (2004) was the first film to bring tears to my eyes when the woman caught in adultery stretched out her hand to touch the LORD's feet after saving her from inevitable stoning. Son of GOD (2014) also made me teary-eyed while JESUS lipsynced the tax collector's repentance prayer...
8. Battle of the Souls (2007 Ugandan supernatural film) features my Favourite African actor as Wycliffe, or was he Lucifer? Life is spiritual...
9. The Wolverine (2013 film) is my Most Lethal Superhero alongside Batman, Superman, Deadpool (funniest) and Deadshot. This Marvel film features Prophetess Yukio ("I saw you die") plus Logan's Japanese baby mama...
10. Okutre is a Lugbaflix classic set in Arua...
11. Sisu is Finnish for: Never give up! Silence is golden, Aatami Korpi says nothing until the end when inside a bank...
12. Woodlawn is Deion Sanders-like American football mixed with JESUS...
13. The Case for Christ is about a non-believer journalist turning into a Christian; the Shroud of Turin might be the authentic burial cloth of our Saviour...
14. The Dark Knight shows the Joker in full evil mode forcing Batman to get darker too. I love the caped crusader because he doesn't kill but arrests like Police and is invincible, to say the most. The other Batman flick I loved featured Danny DeVito as Penguin...
15. ATL is sweet sweet: My mouth is not that big...
16. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silversurfer is a silver lining on all FF renditions...
17. Finding Nemo is a cartoon masterpiece; too bad his mother died...
18. Samson & Delilah is a biblical romantic tragedy...
19. Lagaan is a Bollywood masterpiece...
20. Slumdog Millionaire took Bollywood to Hollywood; amazing story: Benjamin Franklin...
21. Man of Steel: Superman 2 was great, but this modern DC flick makes Smallville big...
22. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is Disney animation at its finest. How could they paint that in the late 1930s, so pristinely timeless?
BONUS: Kiss of the Dragon (2001): Romeo Must Die contains a super cast of amazing stars from DMX and Aaliyah (wonderful musician who died in a 2001 plane crash) to all her connections, but this Jet Li flick set in France is a martial arts masterpiece...
One movie I want to watch in Lugbara is Lost In Translation (2003)...
(CC) Aiko (Cartoonist)
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