YES! THAT'S US | UGANDA, SOUTH AFRICA, KENYA, GERMANY | 2015 | 85' | LUGANDA WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
Director Donald Mugisha and James Tayler of the Ugandan/South African "Yes! That's Us" filmmaking collective presents an African view on a famous European film classic: Vittorio de Sica's 1948 neorealist Ladri di biciclette (Bicycle Thieves).
Unemployed teenager Abel spends his days in the company of frauds and petty criminals in Uganda's capital Kampala. His father tries to make an honest living as driver of a motorbike taxi, a so-called "boda boda". One day, he is injured while working overtime. He still owes his rather unsympathetic boss money, so Abel has to jump in to prevent his father from getting into serious trouble. But instead of working hard, Abel decides to use the motorbike taxi for criminal ends. Things go very wrong and the boda boda ends up being stolen. All Abel can do is go looking for the stolen motorbike taxi in the large city he calls home.
Directors Mugisha and Tayler paint a compelling picture of a world dominated by harsh poverty, the necessity to think twice and again before spending any money. It is a world riddled with corruption; the police is definitely willing to help look for the stolen bike, but only after some palms have been greased.
Filmmaker Donald Mugisha will be attending the festival and after the screenings of the film will answer the audience's questions.
Screenings:
Venue: Rialto
WED 19 AUG – 19:15 
THU 20 AUG – 19:30
Venue: De Balie
FRI 21 AUG – 19:15