ELEPHANT’S DREAM
A film by Kristof Bilsen
Followed by discussion with the director/producer
Doe Library, Room 180 UC Berkeley
Monday, April 16, 2018 6-8p.m.
Set in war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Elephant’s Dream is a breathtaking documentary that captures the daily lives of Congolese street-level civil servants in Kinshasa and Bas-Congo. Kristof Bilsen’s documentary is a long overdue testimony to the courage of the men and women who, against all odds, continue to build society and resilience.
Neglected by conventional portrayals of this vast country nested at the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, these stories reveal the complexities, ambiguities, and challenges of living in a postcolonial nation marked by widespread conflict, political crises and economic collapse. Taking Henriette, the post office counter clerk, Simon, the train station officer and Lieutenant, the chief fire fighter out of international oblivion, this documentary successfully achieves the feat of taking its viewers far beyond the habitual clichés and into the tough path of a self-reflexive voyage.
This event is free, open to the public, and all are invited to participate. For more information: contact fsmprograms@lists.berkeley.edu
Sponsored by the University Library’s Free Speech Movement (FSM) Educational Programs Committee, the UC Berkeley Department of Geography, and the UC Berkeley Center for African Studies.
The Library attempts to offer programs in accessible, barrier-free settings. If you think you may require disability-related accommodations, please contact us — ideally at least two weeks prior to the event: fsmprograms@lists.berkeley.edu, 510-768-7618.