Filmmaking was a mid-life discovery for Sarah Maldoror: she made her first short film at the age of 39, after making waves in Paris as part of a black theater troupe, advocating abroad for african independence and supporting the fight in places like Algeria and Angola, and crucially, studying film in the USSR before assisting on The Battle of Algiers. As she witnessed Gilles Pontecorvo’s film become an international rallying cry for anti-imperialists everywhere, she knew without question that she had to bring the tools of cinema to the fight against portuguese occupiers in Angola, the birthplace of her husband.
Her first feature-length film, Sambizanga, began to be shown (outside Angola, where it was banned) before independence was won. 50 years later, it made its first appearance on the Sight and Sound Top 250. And on this episode, we’re excited to discuss how this boldly modern film took us by surprise on first watch, and unpack the ways it stands apart in film history.
Next time: Marty Supreme (2025) by Josh Safdie
Watch the trailer for our short film
Suggest a film to be added to our Film History watchlist
UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy