Mortu Nega

Set during and immediately after Guinea-Bissau's war for independence from Portugal (1963-1974), Mortu Nega (translated as Death Denied or The One Whom Death Refused) is the first fiction feature ever produced in the country. The film poetically intertwines the collective struggle for liberation with an intimate human story by following Diminga, a woman who treks across war-torn countryside to bring food to her husband, Sako, a soldier on the frontline. The narrative then shifts to the fraught post-independence period, exploring the challenges of building a new society amidst drought, disillusionment, and the lingering scars of conflict. A lyrical and deeply spiritual tribute to the sacrifices of ordinary people, particularly women. Flora Gomes, a disciple of Guinea-Bissau film pioneer Sana Na N'Hada, deftly weaves historical testimony with mythic resonance, affirming the power of community and cultural memory.