Makongo

Two Aka pygmies from the Central African Republic sell roasted caterpillars in the city, using the proceeds to improve education in their communities. They know exactly where and when to catch the hairy insects and they make a good living from what nature has to offer. However, these skills and knowledge are of little use to them in the concrete jungle, where they are as overwhelmed and uncomfortable as city dwellers would be in their forest village. And while there is plenty of demand for their local delicacy, no one seems willing to pay a fair price for it. In their fight against illiteracy, the two young fathers also serve as teachers; and the children’s eagerness to drink in knowledge is moving. Makongo paints a portrait of a fascinating community in which people sing and work together, sharing their joys and sorrows. It provides a powerful observation of universal themes such as discrimination, exclusion, individualization and altruism, which won two awards at the Cinema du Réel festival. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)