Memories of a Burning Tree
︎︎︎Trailer︎SYNOPSIS
Smith comes to Dar es Salaam to tie up some loose ends. He meets Link, a tourist guide, who agrees to help him. Along the way they are offered help by Abdul, a grave digger, and Toatoa, a metal scavenger, who themselves are searching for answers to their own journeys. Their search eventually leads them to realise that this is a never-ending journey of dreams and disappointments. With an ensemble cast of non-professional actors and an improvised script, this film is an homage to the road movie genre, where ultimately the road ends when you want it to end.
Smith
(Man looking
for a grave)
Smith K. Kimaro
Link (Tourist guide)
Link Reuben
Abdul (Grave digger)
Abdul Khalfan Malaika
Toatoa (Metal Scavenger)
Khalid Saleh Bilal
Mariam (Food Seller)
Mariam Rashid
Grace (Toatoa’s sister)
Grace Mathayo
Miriam (Toatoa’s girlfriend)
Miriam Emanuel
Link’s Aunt
Raheli
With
Rase Ndunguru,
Stephen Josephat,
Silvan N Mkude,
Abdullah Saidi,
Halima Hassan,
Gladness Charles,
Christina Jumas,
Zaina Saidi,
Gwamaka Mwakalinga,
Khadija Borna,
Khadya Mohamedi,
Joruh Jackson,
Amina Irajabu,
Secemani Husseni,
Sikoca Zoni, Shomaki Zumk,
Zuena Lawi,
Ramadhani Shabani,
Mohamed Abdalah,
Earohiney Njoki,
Goodlucky Simon,
Adamy Hamizi,
John Kachile,
Mosses Samseni
Written, Shot and Directed by
Sherman Ong
Co-writers
Peter Mbwago,
Nkumi Hamis Mtingwa
Produced by
Gertjan Zuilhof,
Sherman Ong
Co-produced by
Tan Bee Thiam
Assistant Director
Peter Mbwago
Fixer/ Location
Link Reuben
Camera Assistant
Malto Tambi
Costume Designer
Meredith Lee
Script Supervisor
Edgar Chatanda
Sound Recordists
Nkumi Hamis Mtingwa,
Malto Tambi
Editors
Ming An,
Kent Chan
Sound Designer
Takuya Katsu
Music
The ‘Tribute to Mardana’ Gang
Publicity Designer
Catherine Chia
Original title
Kumbukumbu Za Mti Uunguao
International Title
Memories of a Burning Tree
Duration
86 min / Colour
Aspect Ratio
1:1.85
Screening Format
HDCAM PAL or Digibeta PAL
Sound
Stereo
Year of Release
2010
Language
Swahili
Subtitles
English
Countries of Production
Singapore, Malaysia, Tanzania, The Netherlands
Production Company
Paddy Pictures,
13 Little Pictures
Commissioned by
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2009 for FORGET AFRICA
PRESS
“With understated performances from non-professional actors speaking Swahili, the film gives a striking impression of urban African life without pushing violence, poverty or disease.”
Senses of Cinema
“One can hope this work receives wide exposure because such a fresh outsider’s look at an African region is not common in world cinema. Together with Korean American Lee Isaac Chung’s MUNYURANGABO, this is the most important quiet examination of lives outside our usual cinema experience.”
Michael Campi
“A Singaporean director has made a movie in Tanzania. In Swahili. With a cast of non-actors. And it’s amazing. Kumbukumbu Za Mti Uunguao (Memories of a Burning Tree) is a multi-layered ensemble drama that cuts to matters of the heart and soul.”
Thai Film Journal
Senses of Cinema
“One can hope this work receives wide exposure because such a fresh outsider’s look at an African region is not common in world cinema. Together with Korean American Lee Isaac Chung’s MUNYURANGABO, this is the most important quiet examination of lives outside our usual cinema experience.”
Michael Campi
“A Singaporean director has made a movie in Tanzania. In Swahili. With a cast of non-actors. And it’s amazing. Kumbukumbu Za Mti Uunguao (Memories of a Burning Tree) is a multi-layered ensemble drama that cuts to matters of the heart and soul.”
Thai Film Journal
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
The story was conceived after I had an audition with amateur theatre actors who live in the same suburb of Dar es Salaam as Link Reuben, my guide in Dar. Link works as a tourist guide and a painter. It all started when I asked him to take me to his neighbourhood and meet his neighbours. Link brought me to a cemetery near his home and as we were walking, he told me that some of the crosses on the graves are missing because they were taken by people who sell them as scrap metal...so that planted the seed of the story. We were just taking a walk in the cemetery and talking about general things. And the Christian and Muslim cemetaries are just next to each other. So I decided to have a character looking for a grave and then everything fell into place at the audition. So it was the 'dead' that actually gave me the story and I was just the medium who channelled the stories onto the screen.
FESTIVALS
Göteborg International Film Festival 2010
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2010
