Africa and African Depiction in Movies (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course Number
Date
Africa and African Depiction in Movies
Introduction
Since time immemorial, Hollywood film productions have had a stereotypical representation of African continent and its people. The classification has painted a picture of waywardness of African people and abject uncivilized nature christened with poverty, corruption and barbaric violent tendencies (Eckhardt 8).
On the other hand, African made films have been on the forefront as ambassadors carrying the beautiful image of Africa and its space. Such African films have depicted the modernization and civilization of its people as well as the futuristic affiliation of technology.. Therefore, this paper vehemently seeks to draw comparisons and contrasts of how Africa and Africans are portrayed in both Hollywood-produced films and African-made films
First Analysis: Comparative analysis between tears of the Sun, produced in the United states and 76 movie, produced in Nigeria
Tear of the Sun (dir. Antoine Fuqua), United States, 2003, plot breakdown.
The movie revolves around the anecdote of Navy Seals unit sets out to Nigerian civil unrest to rescue American Nationals to safety. With Bruce Willis as the Lead Character, the movie achieves an action packed thrill of incomparable magnitude. The American Nationals include a female doctor, a priest and two holy sister. The twist in the tale is that, the doctor is unwilling to leave citing that her patients need her more. It the nearby surrounding, gunshots and screams of people under attack deafen the air, prompting Water (Bruce Willis) to wrestle the doctor to the helicopter. However, as they helicopter circles over, Waters is met with a grotesque sight of areas set ablaze and people being hacked to death by approaching troops (Njambi and William 355). The rebel commander, a tough looking African man, spares no life upon his path. Water (Bruce Willis) asks the pilot of the helicopter to land the chopper against a direct order. What follows next is that Waters has to lead his troop, the doctor, and a few patients through the jungle to Cameroon where they will be rescued. The suspense and tension created by the fast approaching rebels and weak patients that can barely walk sends shivers allover.
76 (dir. Izu Ojukwu), Nigeria, 2016, Plot
76 is a movie that is set just before the technological era. Ramsey Noah as the lead character called Captain Joseph Dewas, has just been reassigned from being in the presidential residence. While at the presidents’ residence, he served as an intelligence officer. In his new post, Captain Dewas meets his best friend Gomos, who needs Dewas to join him in a coup plot. Consequently, Dewas gets on the run as the government official are in hot pursuit. The plot creatively centers on the year 1976 when the first unsuccessful coup was orchestrated. What comes next are action packed events characterized by betrayal, blackmail and grotesque violence. The choice of characters used in the movie give it an edge against other African produced films. The lead characters together with the supporting ones passionately and convincingly execute their role to a satisfying level (Njambi and William 361). The technical elements of the movies including cinematography, score, and directing have been knitted together in a seamless manner.
Comparison and Contrast between the two movies
Evidently, both the two films narrate the story of African amidst civil unrests. Tears of the Sun categorically depicts a civil war in Nigeria at the time of the rescue. Similarly, 76, is set during the coup era in Nigeria around the year 1976. Both movies are characterized with a Nigerian setting. In both films, Africans are depicted to be constantly at war with each movie having tension packed action adorned with blood.
Tears of the Sun portrays Africans as barbaric creatures who are blood thirsty and ruthless, whereas, in 76, the movie shows that Africans