According to Sundayworld, Akin Omotosoโs Pan-African silent film A Hotel Called Memory โ which stars South African actresses Mmabatho Montsho and Nomzamo Mbathaโ won over audiences in Americaโ taking home the Audience Award for Favourite Experimental Film at the 6th Annual Blackstar Film Festival in Philadelphiaโ America recently.
The โtone poemโ film made its world premiere at the same film festival and tells the story of a womanโ who after separating from her husband in Lagosโ Nigeria seeks solace in Zanzibarโ hoping to forget her turbulent past.
Speaking to TshisaLIVEโ Mmabatho said that she was humbled by audience reaction to the film.
โTo shoot any film like this is amazing and gratifying as an actressโ but to have people respond so well to the film is just humbling. I loved working on the project and with so many other talented people. I guess that passion came throughโโ she said.
Mmabatho said that it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what it was that won over audiences but suggested that it may have been the filmโs authenticity.
โWhat I loved about the film was that it was so unique and gave expression in a whole new way. When you love something as much as Akin doesโ it shines through and audiences pick up on that energy and the emotions of the filmโโ she said.
The project was filmed in Lagosโ Zanzibar and Cape Townโ and sees Nomzamo and Mmabatho play key roles in the film. Mbatho plays the role of a woman who is involved with the main character.
She explained that preparing for a silent film was not much different to preparing for a role on any other film.
โWhen I read the script I knew that I wanted to be part of the filmโ which meant that I started preparing from that moment. The interesting thing isโ I didnโt prepare for it in a different way. It was just reading the emotion of the scene and giving it my all. The only difference was that I wasnโt speaking with my mouth. It was more like my heart was speaking. It was beautifulโโ she said.
A Hotel Called Memory will be released in a number of African countries next yearโ including both Nigeria and South Africa.
Source: Sundayworld