Director: Cathryne Czubek
Writers: Cathryne Czubek, Amanda Hughes
Starring: Nabwana I.G.G., Alan Hofmanis, Asiimwe Apollo, Bukenya Charles, Bisaso Dauda, V.J. Emmie, Kizza Manshoor
Country: USA, Uganda
Running Time: 94 min
Year: 2021
BBFC Certificate: TBC
Earlier this year I reviewed 101 Films & AGFA’s release of Wakaliwood Supa Action Volume 1. The two films in the set were a lot of fun but I was even more impressed by the story behind them, as you can tell from my lengthy, passionate write-up. After working through the collection, I eagerly researched the makeshift film studio and followed it on all the social media platforms I use. I even bought one of the few DVDs you can get directly from their website, along with some memorabilia to support their cause.
So, when I heard a documentary called Once Upon a Time in Uganda had been made celebrating Wakaliwood and its founder, Isaac Nabwana (a.k.a. Nabwana I.G.G. or simply Isaac) I was thrilled and got my hands on a streaming link as soon as I could.
With me pouring so much time and energy into my review of the Supa Action set, I’ve covered a lot of details already, so this review isn’t going to be quite as lengthy and I’d advise people to read through that to get a fuller picture, but here are my thoughts on Cathryne Czubek’s Once Upon a Time in Uganda.
In case you’re reading this review first, the documentary charts the rise of Wakaliwood (a.k.a. Ramon Film Productions), a micro-budget action movie studio in Wakaliga, a slum in Kampala, Uganda. The film follows Isaac Nabwana, a former brickmaker who decided to make his own action movies inspired by his childhood memories of hearing his older brother relate the stories of 80s Hollywood action movies. With the help of his family, friends and local community, Nabwana has created a profit-free but thriving film industry in Wakaliga, producing dozens of films since starting his Ramon Film Productions company in 2005.
The documentary also follows the story of Alan Hofmanis, a film programmer from New York who became an instant fan of Ramon Film Productions after seeing the trailer to Who Killed Captain Alex?, which had become a viral sensation back in 2010. Hofmanis travelled to Uganda to meet Nabwana and somehow get involved with his company. Landing a part in the film Bad Black almost as soon as he arrived, he and Nabwana became friends and Hofmanis became part of the Ramon Film Productions team. Not wanting to interfere with the filmmaking side of things or the successful local distribution (done door-to-door), Hofmanis was appointed as the international producer, helping to bring Wakaliwood to international attention.
Nabwana’s work is truly inspirational. In the documentary, Hofmanis describes how some have criticised him for supporting violence in an area that has suffered from violence and poverty for a long time. They believe Nabwana should make films about poverty. However, that misses the whole point. These films are made by the local community and for the local community. They don’t need reminding about the tough lives they lead. Instead, the films made in Wakaliwood give the local people purpose, hope, a strong sense of community and, quite simply, joy.
You only have to watch the behind-the-scenes clips in the documentary to see how much fun the volunteer cast and crew have in making films with Nabwana. The kids get heavily involved too. After finding local success with Crazy World in 2014, which had a cast of kung-fu fighting kids taking on the bad guys, Ramon Film Productions has formed their own group of ‘Waka Starz’ – youngsters with the same passion for filmmaking as the adults. The sense of achievement and self-worth those kids will get through these projects is much more powerful than any handouts.
With the films all featuring a hefty dose of kung-fu, many of the locals take part in martial arts training too. This teaches self-discipline as well as boosting health and fitness.
The documentary gets all of this across effectively and reflects a little of the humour of the films in its style too, particularly through some heightened reconstructions. It doesn’t shy away from some of the problems faced by Nabwana and the community but it doesn’t dwell on them for sympathy either. Instead, Czubek sensibly focuses on the strengths of Nabwana’s work.
I’d already heard much of the story behind Wakaliwood through the extra features on the Supa Action set but, thankfully, Czubek’s film digs a little further into the lives of Nabwana and Hofmanis, to make for a fulfilling and occasionally moving experience. It extends chronologically beyond the material I’d seen before too, so I was happy to see a continuation of the story.
My only gripe would be that, towards the end of the documentary, a personal drama between Nabwana and Hofmanis develops that felt rather forced. I didn’t totally buy it and the film seemed to be milking sympathy for Hofmanis at a time when I felt he was being a little unreasonable. Also, with his more privileged background and ability to jet back to the comforts of New York, it was harder to feel sorry for him in such a situation.
However, the film follows this with a finale that’s truly uplifting, ending on an emotional high note.
So, whilst I didn’t buy some of the drama injected into the story later on, I was still moved and inspired by Nabwana and Hofmanis’ tale. Anyone that’s tried to make their own film will appreciate the pleasures and pains of Once Upon a Time in Uganda and, hopefully, the documentary will help support the Wakaliwood cause so they can keep making movies and get them out to the rest of the world.
Wakaliwood forever!
Once Upon a Time in Uganda is in cinemas from 5 September, released by Blue Finch Film Releasing. It will screen at Odeon cinemas nationwide on 5 September with a recorded Q&A with Wakaliwood filmmaker Isaac Nabwana.
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