Behind the lens; Capturing the Hidden Truth

BY TVISHA MISTRY

Attention the Film Industry is back. Stronger than ever, the industry is growing!

A recent report entitled “Global Movie Theatres Market: Size & Forecasts with Impact Analysis of COVID-19 (2020-2024 Edition)” by Research and Marketing Cor. revealed forecasts on the scope of increase in the film industry’s market size and projects across the globe.

COVID-19 led to several restrictions including the closure of movie theatres. And all the moviegoers were heartbroken at the news. But as the vaccine distribution begins, we can expect our lives to go back to normal.

Earlier this month, on March 5^th movie theatres in the Southwestern regions of Ontario, reopened to welcome all the cinema buffs back to their happy place. After moving to the Orange zone, London has been one of the first regions to open its cinemas.

The opened locations include Cineplex Odeon Westmount Cinemas, SilverCity London Cinemas, Galaxy Cinemas Chatham, and Galaxy Cinemas St. Thomas.

Since COVID-19 has led to so many new experiences, I decided to watch a movie. Something I wouldn’t normally pick. But let me just say I’m SO glad I did! Recently I watched the eye-opening short film Till Death do us Part, directed by Dolores Vunda.

“Till Death do us Part” is an independent short film released on Youtube. Directed by Dolores Vunda the story captures the experience of an African woman of Ugandan descent through the struggles of her marital life and the societal pressures that follow a woman to childbearing. The story develops Denise, the lead character further, as she embarks on a journey to oppose her husband’s will to marry another woman, standing up against her family to fight the law that the culture still holds just.

“The thing I look for when choosing a script is “the truth”. What kind of truth is hidden in the story and how it might impact lives. What could change a person’s perspective and show the reality or the hidden truth,” said Director Dolores Vunda.

Vunda is a native African, born and raised in the Republic of Congo. She recently graduated from the Warsaw film school in Poland. Having a long connection with cinemas Vunda has a passion for sharing stories. She likes to shine light on the stories that are not necessarily brought forward by mainstream media. She has decided to focus on stories from the region of Africa. She wished to capture the reality, whether it be good or bad.

“I see myself going back to Africa and making films on Africa. I want to make movies about Africa, that show the goods and the bads. Wherever you go they are things you know and the things you don’t. So, I want to share their vision. Sometimes people are scared to say what they want to say, so I want to be that voice. I want to say the things that are not being said in the frontlines,” said Director Dolores Vunda. “You still have this cultural side of Africa that people don’t know. Although I am from Africa when I made my film, I discovered things that I didn’t know. To know the hows and whys, and I was shocked that even though I spent my entire life there; there are still things I don’t know. And that is a frightening feeling because it’s a part of identity and then it would mean that I don’t truly know myself,” Vunda added.