Freedom
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Matthew Elebsunu, Nigeria
Elsie Chiwuzie, Nigeria
Manasseh Moerane, South Africa
Ifoghale Amata, Nigeria
Lionel Jardine, Great Britain
Kezia Fashina, Nigeria
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In the African nation of Bokondo, the king struggles to modernize his country while maintaining traditional culture and values. Many citizens are angry about the "imperial yoke" placed upon them by the British government and seek to replace the white officials with an all-African government. The king is aided by his chief minister, Adamu, although he suspects Adamu of being more interested in his own welfare than that of the people. The opposition is led by Renaissance African Party leader Mutanda, who, while honestly desiring the best for his country, is blinded by his own thirst for power and revenge against "Imperia." The primary complaint made by Mutanda's party is that whites have taken over land and natural resources belonging to Africans, who now must pay exorbitant taxes for their use. The country's main tribe, the Babalas, needs new grazing lands, and so Adamu petitions Mr. Roland, a white government representative, to give a parcel of land to the tribe. Roland states that Adamu's request is out of the question but offers a different parcel of land in exchange for a hefty tax increase. Adamu agrees to Roland's conditions, even though he knows that they are unfair, then returns home, where his neglected wife and son wait for him. Meanwhile, the king, hoping to be rid of Adamu for a few days, decides to send him to an intercontinental conference in Geneva. While the king discusses the idea with Asoke, his politically savvy wife, they are interrupted by Mutanda, who has arrived with a large contingent of his followers to demand an interview. Mutanda insists that the king recover lands that were originally theirs, and warns that if he does not stem the tide of crushing taxes, there will be an uprising. Soon after, Adamu travels to Geneva, where he is astonished to find that even the most urbane delegates squabble over small points and refuse to collaborate. Distressed by the partisanship, Adamu has a change of heart about his own selfish ways and discusses the situation with a European and an Indian delegate, who agree that the only way to enact true reform is through real cooperation between all peoples. Back in Bokondo, a fifteen percent tax increase is instated, much to the fury of the people, including Mrs. Maggie Palava, the leader of the market women. Mutanda then meets with his companion Benali and two of their friends, and they decide that in order to achieve their objective of ejecting all alien residents from Bokondo, they must first depose Adamu. They decide to assassinate him upon his return from Geneva, after which they will "get rid of" Roland. When Adamu returns home, he lovingly greets his surprised wife and son, then visits Roland. Adamu apologizes to Roland for his former scheming, and asserts that as a changed man, his only interest is in dealing honestly with everyone. Their conversation is interrupted, however, when Benali throws a bomb into Roland's home. Fortunately, the explosion does not harm either Adamu or Roland, who then appear before the king with Mutanda. The ruler is astonished when Adamu laughs that, given his lifelong selfishness, he is surprised that no one had attempted to assassinate him before. Although the men listen as Adamu states that change must begin from within, with each man taking individual responsibility for his home life and then his national life, Mutanda refuses to take him seriously. Mutanda complains fiercely about the white men's past mistreatment of his countrymen, and when Adamu asserts that such bittnerness cannot have a positive impact on the future, Mutanda again dismisses him. The next day, the king, Asoke and Adamu enjoy the river festival, at which an angry Maggie approaches them about the taxes. Adamu invites her to see the king the next day, and when she arrives with her husband John, Maggie declares that the market women will demonstrate, even though John, the leader of the National Party of Africa, Mutanda's rivals, opposes her actions. John and Mutanda, who is also at the meeting, inflame the situation by arguing over party and tribal politics, although Adamu attempts to point out their mutual desire to help their country. After the Palavas storm off, the king questions Adamu about his attitudes, and Adamu explains that in Geneva, he made friends who taught him that people must set aside all hatred and fear in order to be free. Mutanda dismisses Adamu's assertions as fantastic, and after leaving, plots with Benali to foment even more dissent at the following day's demonstration. Benali states that thousands of people will be coming from all over the country to attend, and that they will be able to establish a new political order. Meanwhile, the king and Adamu continue their talk, and the king realizes that his cravings for the trappings of power have blinded him to the unhappiness of Asoke and his people. The next morning, Mrs. Adamu visits Mutanda's wife Pauline, who has spent another lonely night without her husband, and tells her of Adamu's transformation, as well as her own spiritual alterations. Mrs. Adamu urges Pauline to put God first in her heart and leave behind her bitterness over being neglected by Mutanda. When her husband arrives home, Pauline pledges her love and vows to abandon her selfish demands on him. Stunned by Pauline's words, which echo those of Adamu, Mutanda wanders alone to think. He is found by Adamu, who apologizes for his past jealousy. Adamu explains that both he and Mutanda have been manipulated by others, who have sown disunity throughout the land for their own gain, and that in order to help Bokondo, they must rise above their personal desires. This time, Mutanda is convinced and determines to appeal to the people attending the demonstration to continue their drive for freedom, but in a more positive way. Mutanda then learns that Benali has supplied various cohorts with ammunition and intends to instigate an armed revolt. Realizing that he has been duped by Benali, Mutanda rushes to the marketplace with Adamu. An eavesdropping policeman alerts Roland, who orders in armed soldiers to control the crowd, then calls the king to ask him to attend the gathering. As hordes of angry people descend upon the marketplace, Mutanda and Adamu arrive, and when they begin to speak of promoting absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness and love, their words drown out Benali's heckling followers. John and Roland, offered friendship by Mutanda and Adamu, pledge their support for true freedom achieved through inner change, and Roland tears up the proposal for the increased tax. With the king's blessing, the crowd then begins to sing and celebrate their country's new beginning.
Cast
Matthew Elebsunu, Nigeria
Elsie Chiwuzie, Nigeria
Manasseh Moerane, South Africa
Ifoghale Amata, Nigeria
Lionel Jardine, Great Britain
Kezia Fashina, Nigeria
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The opening credits are all listed before the film's title. Although the credits include a 1956 copyright statement for Moral Re-Armament, the film was not included in the Copyright Catalog. The opening title cards read: "Moral Re-Armament presents A story of modern Africa written and acted by Africans." A dedication reads: "Filmed in Africa in authentic settings through the gracious co-operation of Their Highnesses Sir Ladapo Ademola, Alake of Abeokuta; Adeniji Adele II, Oba of Lagos; Aladesanmi II, Ewi of Ado Ekiti; S. Akisanya, Odemo of Ishara; Okosi II, Obi of Onitsha; and The Hon. Mr. Justice Jobling and Mrs. Jobling; Councillor and Mrs. F. S. McEwen." Other onscreen credits state that the picture was "written out of the experience and convictions of Africans from all over Africa" and that the "production unit was drawn from 12 nations."
The picture begins with an African man, dressed in traditional clothing, addressing a large crowd, all of whom are shouting "Freedom." Voice-over narration by the man about life in Africa and its varied population is heard over a montage of scenes of contemporary village and city life throughout the country. The narration describes Africa as a place where "man traverses mankind's history in a generation, while the future with tender steps bows hesitant to the past." The scene then shifts to the fictional country of Bokondo.
According to contemporary sources, much of the picture was shot in Nigeria. The sequences featuring Geneva, Switzerland were shot on location there. Although some contemporary sources list the film's color process as Technicolor, Eastman Colour is listed in the onscreen credits. The end credits include a title stating that while on location in Africa, the cast and technicians "gave their services and time without salary as their contribution in remaking the world."
An February 8, 1957 Los Angeles Times article described the authors of the film's screenplay and the play on which the film is based as Manasseh Moerane, vice-president of the African Teachers Association of South Africa; Ifogahle Amata, former president of the Students' Union of Ibadan University, Nigeria; and the Honorable Abayisaa Karbo, Member of the Gold Coast Parliament. The film was credited by contemporary sources as being the first feature-length, color film written and played by Africans from all over the continent. The music was adapted from authentic African melodies by African-American James W. Owens and performed by a British orchestra accompanying choirs from Africa, Detroit and Michigan, according to contemporary articles. Modern European sources credit the film's direction to Hannen Foss, production supervision to Marion Clayton Anderson and add Kezia Fashina to the cast.
After the picture's world premiere in Los Angeles in February 1957, Moral Re-Armament (MRA), the group that presented the film internationally, arranged a special, one-performance showing of the film there in May 1957 to benefit the group, according to a Hollywood Reporter news item. By the time Freedom opened a one-week run in Los Angeles in May 1958, it had been exhibited by MRA throughout Africa, Europe, Canada and in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. According to an May 8, 1958 Beverly Hills-Citizen article, the picture won the Grand Prix at the French Film Festival in Lille, France. Contemporary articles about Freedom commented on its successful exhibition in Little Rock, AR, which was then the center of much controversy caused by the state governor's refusal to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court decision abolishing school segregation. The Arkansas exhibition of the film was used in the picture's advertising, with a May 7, 1958 Los Angeles Examiner ad stating: "Africa created it-Little Rock hailed it-Now...You can see it!"
Few reviews of Freedom have been located but Hazel Flynn, writing in the February 13, 1957 issue of Beverly Hills-Citizen, stated, "Last night I experienced a movie which May change the course of my life" and gave the film a rave review. Variety, on the other hand, reviewing the film from a July 1957 screening at the Berlin Film Festival, found it "dilettantish...but it must be regarded as well-meant."
According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, the picture was exhibited in London in October 1962 under the title Uhuru. The 1962 print was in Swahili, but the news item does not state if the print was dubbed into Swahili, if Swahili subtitles were used or if the original film had been simultaneously recorded in Swahili and English. A May 1958 Los Angeles Sentinel article noted that to that date, the picture had been "shown in 28 countries in seven languages."
According to information in the Moral Re-Armament, Inc. Collection at the Library of Congress Manuscripts Division, MRA was organized in 1938 in London. A precursor organization, the Oxford Group, began in the early 1920s. MRA's leader was Frank Buchman, originally a Lutheran minister from Pennsylvania, who also has been said to have inspired Alcoholics Anonymous. The group did not align itself with any specific religious denomination, preferring an ecumenical approach, and included among its adherents peoples of many different faiths. Buchman achieved success in converting people to the group's ideas and goals through emotional group confessional techniques. MRA's four core teachings were absolute honesty, purity, love and unselfishness.
In 1939, the group advocated efforts to prevent war, and following World War II, it initiated a campaign to offer an alternative to international Communism, concentrating its work in Europe, Japan, Africa, Asia and South America. Critics of the organization have associated it with pro-fascism and appeasement in regard to its attitude towards Nazi Germany. MRA attracted a number of world leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi and West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Gandhi has been quoted as saying, "Moral Re-Armament is the best thing that ever came from the West to the East." MRA's next film was the 1960 release The Crowning Experience. MRA was responsible for the "Up with People" musical programs of the 1960s. Buchman died in 1961, and by 1975, MRA was being phased out as an active organization, but was later revived as Initiative for Change.
