Reflections on Ethiopian award winning Film 'Difret'

Blogger's Note:  Last Thursday evening at American Film Institute in Silver Spring Maryland, I saw 'Difret'the Ethiopian film that won Audience Awards for dramatic or fiction films both at Sundance Film Festival and at Berlin International Film Festival. Even with its low-budget production,it is first-class movie both technically and in the way the script was developed en par with Indie films made in Europe or in America. The script or main story revolves around the ground breaking legal case where a 14 years old Ethiopian girl stood in trial after killing the man who abducted her making her his wife through old cultural tradition called 'Telefa' (marriage by abduction). The following well written review is by Ambassador Imru Zelleke who saw its 1st screening during African Film Festival 2014. It is good to note here that a sold out crowd (mostly Ethiopian origin) saw the movie during its 1st screening and the organizers felt it deserves a 2nd screening. That was when I saw it and it was sold out again. It seems the large number of Ethiopians or Ethiopian-Americans living in Washington DC metropolitan area heard about it thru words-of-mouth and turned out in big number. It recalled the time when 'Atletu' (another Ethiopian film based on the legendary marathon runner Abebe Biqila's life) was screened at the same venue for sold-out crowd. For me, equally best moment was the Q & A session that followed the screening and moderated by Mr. Mwiza Munthali (the organizer of the African Film Festival). The questions were great and the answers from the Director/Scriptwriter of the film ZereSenay B. Mehari  & the Producer Dr. Mehret Mandefro were well-thought of and very illuminating not only about film making but also about the broader topic of gender and culture in general. I had also the chance to talk one-on-one with the Director and the Producer. I found them very nice, humble, eager to listen and easy to engage in conversation with. I look forward to see more the works of these accomplished, energetic & creative young professionals in the future. 
Watch below clip of the Q & A session recorded during the first screening courtesy of Tadias Online Magazine.

World Cinema Dramatic Audience Awar at Sundance Film Festival and "Best New Movie Award' at Berlin International Film Festival. Even with its low-budget production, It is first-class movie technically en par with Indie films made in Europe or in America even with those large budget movies made in big Holywood studios. The script or main story revolves around the ground breaking legal case where a 14 years old Ethiopian girl stand in trial after killing the man who abducted her making her his wife through old cultural tradition called 'Telefa' (marriage by abduction). The following well written review is by Ambassador Imru Zelleke who saw its first screening during African Film Festival 2014. It is good to note that here, a sold out crowd (mostly Ethiopian origin) saw the movie during its first screening and the organizers felt it deserves a 2nd screening. That was when I saw it and it was sold out again. It seems the large number of Ethiopians or Ethiopian-Americans living in Washington DC metropolitan area heard about it thru words-of-mouth and turned out in big number. It recalled the time when 'Atletu' (another Ethiopian film based on the legendary marathon runner Abebe Biqila's life) was screened at the same venue for sold-out crowd. For me equally interesting was the Q & A session that followed the screening moderated by Mwiza Munthali, the organizer of the African Film Festival with Director ZereSenai B. Mehari & Producer Dr. Meheret Mandefro. The questions were great and the answers from ZereSenai &  Dr. Mehret were well-thought of and informative not only in film making but also in broad topic of gender and culture in general. I had also the chance to talk one-on-one with the Director and the Producer. I found them very nice, humble, eager to listen and easy to engage in conversation. Watch clip of the Q & A session recorded during the first screening below courtesy of Tadias Online Magazine.

World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award

World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award

DIFRET “Daring”
[Review by Ambassador Imru Zelleke] 

This is a serious movie that depicts in depth the traumatic times that the  Ethiopian society is undergoing from an ever present past towards an inescapable future.  It is a true portrayal of our contemporary national life, with all its contradictions, misconceptions, misunderstandings, of the struggle to survive a grueling existence amidst a violent social turmoil, of despair and hope. This is not an allegory of some past events, it is about present day Ethiopian society.

It mirrors the enormous disparity between the new urban moneyed class and  the abject poverty of the ordinary people. The fear of the ominous bureaucracy and the indifference of the judicial system are glaringly visible throughout the movie. Particularly, the plight of women in a traditional society still anchored in some brutal practices, and the courage and integrity of the young female lawyer and her elder associate who defy even the highest judicial authority, is a magnificent portrayal of the resilience and courage of Ethiopian womanhood.

The film was inspired by a true story and is shot in a genuine physical milieu in which it might have occurred. The subject was treated with candor and intellectual honesty, no frills, no special effects, no paraphernalia.  Cinema wise I think that the film belongs to a category called “cinema verite”.  However, unlike these kind of movies that are usually shot with hand held cameras, the use of professional gear has enhanced its visual quality. The exterior and interior scenes have been shot meticulously and convey most convincingly the mood and temper of the story. This is not an amusement movie but a profound comment about a society in transformation.

The Director Ato Zeresenay Berhane and the producers Woyzero Dr. Mehret  Mandefro  have shown a keen understanding of Ethiopian social fabric, they represent the promising future generation.  The heroines of the story Hirut and the lawyer Meron  as well as all the other actors have given a wonderful performance. Director Zeresenay deserves high credits for writing the script and for his delicate and skillful direction of non-professional actors into acting admirably in difficult and complex roles.  Compliments are also due to the team of producers, especially to Angela Jolie for participating in this venture and adding to her illustrious work this unique artistic achievement.  This is a film to be seen more than once to seize fully its meaning and significance to our future social development. 

We should look forward to other cinematic works by Director Zeresenay Berhane and producer Dr. Mehret Mandefro, whishing them our highest congratulations. 
Imru Zelleke                                                                                                     March 16, 2014 

Battle of Goura from the diary notes of a former Confederate Army Officer

Blogger’s Note: The following diary entries by Colonel Henry Clay Derrick describing the battle of Goura was originally published in the 2005 edition of Ethiopian Calendar with primary resource materials. To my knowledge this is the first time the partial texts from the diary are available online. 

Introductory Note

Ismael Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan from 1863 to 1879, sought to conquer the entire Nile basin and put it under Egyptian rule. He sent mili-tary expeditions to Ethiopia as far south as Lake Victoria. In 1875 Egyptian troops, led by European and American officers, advanced into the mountainous regions around Ad-wa. There, Ethiopian forces led by Emperor Yohannes soundly defeated the Egyptians at the Battle of Gundet.
Angered by the defeat of his army, the Khedive sent another, larger military ex-pedition under the command of Prince Ratib Pasha into Ethiopia. The invading army was composed of Egyptian soldiers and a mixture of commanders including veterans of the American Civil War, European mercenaries, and high-ranking Egyptians. With the help of the Ethiopian governor of Hamasein (a province where present day Asmara is located), who switched sides to fight for the Egyptians, the Khedive’s troops advanced to Goura 40 miles to the south and built a fort. On March 7, 1876, Emperor Yohannes’ forces en-gaged the Egyptians in battle for three days. In the end, Ethiopian forces stormed the fort killing many and taking large numbers of prisoners. That defeat ended the Khedive’s ambition to invade Ethiopia. A young Ethiopian warrior, Alula Engida, displayed such val-or in the battles at Gundet and Goura that he was given the title Ras (General). Ras Alu-la later would be an acclaimed hero at the Battle of Adwa.
The diary of Lt. Colonel Henry Clay Derrick, a former Confederate Army officer during the American Civil War who later served as an engineer in the Egyptian Army, describes the battle that started at the Kayakhor encampment and ended with the storming of Fort Goura. G. Adugna/T. Vestal

“Tuesday March 7th, 1876
I was ordered to place a Battalion on the hill to hold a point on our line. I went ahead towards Kiya-Khor, and the fight soon opened with artillery. The right gave way and the men fell back, firing as they went. Soon the retreat towards the Fort became general, and though the men were several times partially rallied and formed, they were as often broken again by the mad rush of the Cavalry to the rear. Finding it hopeless to strive anymore against the rout, I joined the retreating columns and made my way with others to the Fort. Our loss is unknown: many of the wounded have been coming in all evening. A black day for the Egyptian Army; but if the men will only stand firm they can hold this Fort.”
[The following entry has no date but is believed to have been written later in March, 1876]
“In vain our shells and rockets ploughed through their dense masses, making frightful carcasses of what were before lithe and active savages; twice or thrice repulsed by the withering fire on their front they again press on. The wild hordes drove back the brave men who held the right and victory and entering by the rear butchered the cannoneers at the guns. Pursued by the horde of elated savages, the retreat soon became a rout and then a butchery...”

“Wednesday, March 8th.
A good many Abyssinians came to our old deserted camp to plunder and steal tents; but I must con-fess that they displayed great bravery and coolness under fire. Several sorties were made on them, which drove them off. Heard from K. Khor by signal that the enemy made two attacks there today and were repulsed each time: also heard from wounded men who came in, that several Battalions had
gone to the mountains instead of coming to the Fort, and forming square fought until their ammunition was expended when they surrendered. In this way we must have lost of the men who are missing –say 5000. A shameful termination to what might have been so easily been rendered a glorious victory by an ordinary amount of firmness and discipline in the troops and efficiency in the officers and Commander. If the troops from K.K. had come last night we might this morning, by attacking the King’s camp at daybreak have redeemed the honor of the Army lost on yesterday.”

“Thursday, March 9th.
The enemy only fired 5 or 6 shots with his cannon today and none since. Why? Is he saving his artillery ammunition for the defence of Adua?...”

“Friday, March 10th.
We went to the old camp of King John to see if we could find any of our missing friends. The sight there were dreadful beyond the power of language to describe. The whole plain was covered with the dead and dying victim of Kassa’s brutality, stripped and violated with every conceivable indignity; their bodies burned with fire, and stoned and clubbed and hacked with swords and pierced with lances. The supplicating cries of the wounded for water and for succor were enough to appall the stoutest heart.”

“March 17th
My opinions upon the consequences resulting from the late engagement and the course to be pursued in the future.
I think it is impossible to continue the campaign aggressively because we have lost heavily in men, ammunition, arms, guns, and means of transportation; and our troops are thoroughly demoralized.
Having allowed the enemy to escape, what remains for us to do? To hold our ground, let the frontier line be selected, making Goura to Kiya-Khor one point; therein immediately erect strong forts and hold the country they embrace. The Abyssinians cannot take them if defended; and behind the walls of a good fort our soldiers will fight if anywhere.”
Source: Derrick, Henry C. Diary. Manuscript Division, Library of Congress. Photos: Battle of Fort Gura (1884) from Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA).http://hdl.handle.net/1911/21526; Plan of Northern Abyssinia from Egypt and Abyssinia. By W.M. Dye.1988.