Shades of Love: Romance in Contemporary African Cinema

This film series is organized in collaboration with the Menil Collection and its exhibition The Progress of Love, on view December 2, 2012–March 17, 2013. Guest film curator for the series is Mahen Bonetti, founder and director of the New York African Film Festival. “When thinking of Africa," she says, "the definition of love is vague or absent. The word love is always overshadowed by crisis—AIDS, drought, warfare. So when thinking of the continent of Africa, one does not think of the word love in relation to the emotions and tension that accompanies the concept. The films in this program cover passion, jealously, revenge, yearning, scheming, intimacy, courtship, gallantry, sexual encounters—with a definite African flavor.”

Generous support provided by Ms. Melanie Gray and Mr. Mark Wawro.

Community partner: Our Image Film and Arts Festival.