Concrete Playground

I've spoken to more than just a few people recently who came out of Avatar, clutching their 3D glasses to their chest and speaking in sighs about how many goosebumps the film gave them. Given that the script appears to have been written for a Year 6 Speech Night play, the only part of the story that in any way seems capable of tweaking skin would be the "Gaia world loves savage spirituality" sequences.

If that's the case, then punters seeking their soul roots would be much better off eschewing the orientalist Hollywood swill and seeing Maangamizi - The Ancient One. Produced by Gris-Gris Films, this is a Tanzanian/American film that came into being back in 2001. Shot on location throughout East Africa, Maangamizi provides an essential element to the exploration of traditional spirituality: the often catastrophic repercussions of removing people from their heritage and placing them into a culture that just doesn't quite add up.

This screening is hosted by Aang Sarian, a Tanzanian NGO that is dedicated to empowering communities through education, sustainable living practices and cultural traditions. Money collected from this screening will go towards the upkeep of an Aang Sarian secondary school in Tanzania as well as to support young women who have fled from forced marriages and female genital mutilation.