Synopsis and Production Credits

2010-01-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

Rotterdam International Film Festival 2010 (World Premiere)
Goteborg International Film Festival 2010
Hong Kong International Film Festival 2010
Singapore International Film Festival 2010 (Asian Film Competition)
African, Asian & Latin American Film Fest, Milan 2010
Durban International Film Festival 2010
Montreal World Film Festival 2010
Rome Asian Film Festival 2010 (In Competition)

Catch Memories of a Burning Tree at the Tokyo International Film Festival (Winds of Asia Competition) in October 2010!
Screening schedule:
10/23 Cinemart Roppongi screen1 12:00/13:26 (Q&A)
10/26 TOHO CINEMAS Roppongi screen2 16:15/17:41 (Q&A)
[Industry Screening]10/27 TOHO CINEMAS Roppongi Premiere 18:50/20:16

"MEMORIES OF A BURNING TREE is the work of Singapore-based director Sherman Ong who made the film in Tanzania and shot it in Swahili. The result is a riveting ensemble piece that is a truly global piece of cinema. ...Beautifully shot, with a cast of non-actors and an improvised script, this is a stirring and original film."
~ www.SubPlanete.net

" A Singaporean director has made a movie in Tanzania. In Swahili. With a cast of non-actors. And it's amazing. Kumbukumbu Za Mti Uunguao (Memories of a Burning Tree) is a multi-layered ensemble drama that cuts to matters of the heart and soul."
~ Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal

"With understated performances from non-professional actors speaking Swahili, the film gives a striking impression of urban African life without pushing violence, poverty or disease." ~ Ian Mundell, senses of cinema

IFFR 2010 Forget Africa Programme Notes:

A film maker who makes friends quickly settles in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Because he can't afford to pay much to the actors, he teaches his new friends to act. Because he hasn't written the screenplay, he asks his new actors for stories. Because he can film, the result looks great.

Just like the other film makers in the Forget Africa project, Sherman Ong had never previously been to Africa. His budget was also not higher than that of his colleagues. He did stay rather longer in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, because he stretched his financial means to the limit, but that does not explain the fact that Ong was able to make a full-length feature in that short time, in a strange country and with such limited means.

The secret is in his approach. Previously, Ong showed in his film Hashi (2008), shot in Japan, that he was able to improvise a feature in a strange country where he doesn't speak the language. Memories of a Burning Tree also came about in improvisations. Ong loves the approach of dancers and theatre makers who put together a show step-by-step. Here, all the performers were amateurs. Most had no acting experience at all. Ong's answer to that is to rehearse calmly and patiently and to involve his actors in building up the story and situation.
The basis is simple. A man called Smith arrives in Dar es Salaam to sort out some affairs. He meets the tourist guide Link, who wants to help him. Gradually he needs more helpers, such as the grave digger Abdul and the scrap collector Toatoa. Each of them is searching in his own way.

Paddy Pictures and 13 Little Pictures

present

Kumbukumbu Za Mti Uunguao

{Memories of a Burning Tree}

Commissioned by

the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2009

for their programme FORGET AFRICA

Directed by Sherman Ong

Written by Sherman Ong

with Peter Mbwago & Nkumi Hamis Mtingwa

Synopsis

Smith comes to Dar es Salaam to tie up some loose ends. He meets Link, a tourist guide, who agrees to help him. Along the way they are offered help by Abdul, a grave digger, and Toatoa, a metal scavenger, who themselves are searching for answers to their own journeys. Their search eventually leads them to realise that this is a never-ending journey of dreams and disappointments. With an ensemble cast of non-professional actors and an improvised script, this film is an homage to the road movie genre, where ultimately the road ends when you want it to end.

Technical Specifications
86 mins   | Colour | Stereo | Swahili with English subtitles
Countries of production: Tanzania, Netherlands, Singapore, Malaysia
Year of production: 2010
Original Format: HD Video
Screening Format: HDCam 60i
Website: http://memoriesofaburningtree.blogspot.com/

Main Cast

Smith K. Kimaro               Smith (Man looking for a grave)
Link Reuben           Link (Tourist guide)
Abdul Khalfan Malaika                 Abdul (Grave digger)
Khalid Saleh Bilal                         Toatoa (Metal Scavenger)
Mariam Rashid                             Mariam (Food Seller)
Grace Mathayo                            Grace (Toatoa’s sister)
Miriam Emanuel                           Miriam (Toatoa’s girlfriend)
Raheli Augustino              Link’s Aunt

Supporting Cast

Rase Ndunguru
Stephen Josephat
Silvan N Mkude
Abdullah Saidi
Halima Hassan
Gladness Charles
Christina Jumas
Zaina Saidi
Gwamaka Mwakalinga
Khadija Borna
Khadya Mohamedi
Joruh Jackson
Amina Irajabu
Secemani Husseni
Sikoca Zoni
Shomaki Zumk
Zuena Lawi
Ramadhani Shabani
Mohamed Abdalah
Earohiney Njoki
Goodlucky Simon
Adamy Hamizi
John Kachile

Excerpts of poems by Shaaban Roberts
Hali Halisi (Real condition)
Punda (Donkey)
Nipate Wapi Mwingine (Where do I find another)

Production Team

Director                        Sherman Ong
Producers                                       Sherman Ong, Gertjan Zuilhof
Co-Producer                                   Tan Bee Thiam
Writers               Sherman Ong with Peter Mbwago & Nkumi Hamis Mtingwa
Director of Photography                  Sherman Ong
Editor                                              Ming An, Kent Chan
Assistant Director                            Peter Mbwago
Sound & Boom Operator                   Nkumi Hamis Mtingwa
Camera Assistant & Sound                Malto Tambi
Script Supervisor                              Edgar Chatanda
Fixer/Location Manager                    Link Reuben
Music                                               The 'Tribute to Mardana' gang
Sound Post                                        Takuya Katsu
Publicity Designer Catherine Chia

Generously supported by
Rotterdam International Film Festival

Special Thanks
Netherlands
Gertjan Zuilhof
Inge de Leeuw
Rotterdam International Film Festival

Tanzania
Link Reuben, Itangaze Tanzania
Raheli Augustino
Mosses Samseni
Raymond & Willy, Big Willy Production
Jaywin
Uli Schueppel
Ulrike Schwerdtfeger, Goethe-Institut Tanzania
H.D.H. Pramukh Swami Maharaj Temple
Korini Hotel, Magomeni
Safari Inn, Dar es Salaam

Singapore
Asian Film Archive
Canon Singapore (Edwin Tan, Nelson Tan)
Singapore Film Commission (Kristin Saw)
The Substation
Dr. Ulrich Nowak, Goethe-Institut Singapore
Nyagela Carren Gaya
Pak-Juan Koe

Malaysia
Jaggu Singh
The 'Tribute to Mardana' gang

Our sincere thanks and gratitude to the kind souls
and kindred spirits who have helped us along the
way to make this film a reality. Asante Sana!

Press / Sales Contact

Sherman ONG
Studio ShermanO
ben [at] shermanong [dot] com
www.shermanong.com

Bee Thiam TAN
13 Little Pictures
bthiam [at] gmail [dot] com
+65 9768 9986
13littlepictures.com

Sunny YONG
Producer, Paddy Pictures
sunny [at] paddypictures [dot] com
www.paddypictures.com

Kumbukumbu Za Mti Uunguao | Memories of a Burning Tree ~ a film by Sherman Ong

Synopsis and Production Credits