Mbambu, a 16 year old girl, participates in rehearsals for a play in her village, Kilembe. The amateurs practice a play on environmental protection and conservation, and on the problems of poaching.
Mbambu would like to finish her school. However, it costs more than the family can afford. The girl therefore got the idea to work as a tourist guide in the mountains to earn the money needed.
The film provides insights into the every day life in a village at the foot of the Rwenzori mountains, the "mountains of the moon", a region in Uganda that has been developed for tourism. It documents, among other things, the amateur theatre and problems in community development, and it provides insights into religious and spiritual conditions, but also into the dreams of Mbambu's family. The mother and grandmother discuss with her what she may expect and what kind of plans she may make for the future. However, they also talk about the difficulties of breaking with a traditional outlook on life - especially in a job like that of a tourist guide.
The discussions give insightful ideas about the strangers and travellers. Interestingly, tourists themselves do not feature in the film at all. They are a projection of a better life, they are supposed to be the source of a bit more prosperity.
Mbambu and the mountains of the moon is a suspenseful, funny, sociocritical film which is captivating especially because it provides very authentic insights into the daily lives and the needs of Mbambu and her people at the foot of the Rwenzori mountains,
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews