*The latest independent movie from Ava DuVernay’s film distribution collective, ARRAY Releasing, is “The Burial of Kojo.” Set in Ghana, the magical realism film is about feuding brothers and the journey of one of their daughters to save more than their relationship.
The dramatic feature will be available on Netflix starting March 31, 2019 and is currently playing in select movie theaters in cities nationwide (see graphic at end of story for cities and dates).
Since 2010, DuVernay, also a celebrated writer, producer, and director, has given a voice to other independent filmmakers of color and women from around the world by distributing their projects. The latest mark’s ARRAY’s (formerly known as AFFRM, African American Film Festival Releasing Movement) 22nd acquisition. The film’s writer and director, Samuel “Blitz” Bazawule, couldn’t be happier of his association with DuVernay.
“It is unbelievable,” said Bazawule, who the EUR caught up with at ARRAY’s headquarters in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 27, 2019. “I am fortunate to be part of that 22 count of films that have already been released. I’m really lucky to be getting this kind of exposure. Ava herself, as a force, is unmatched and with the whole ARRAY family, they understand what indie films need and how they need to be positioned. I’m super blessed to be a part of this.”
Bazawule got the attention of ARRAY when the “The Burial of Kojo” played at a well-known film festival in 2018.
“The film played at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York, which caught the eye of Ava and Tilane Jones (Vice President of ARRAY Releasing,” Bazawule said. “It took some following up by Tina Farris, who is the road manager for The Roots and a few other people. She was tenacious and said, ‘Look, this is a film that you guys should take a good look at.’ They did and I’m really fortunate.”
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It is not surprising that the film’s storyline, that takes a look at the tale of two brothers through the eyes of one of their daughters against a backdrop of a magical realist lens, is what caught the eye of ARRAY. Bazawule added that the movie’s theme is par for the course of stories from the motherland.
“The film is full of symbolism but that’s how we tell stories on the continent,” Bazawule said. “The nucleus of the story is rooted in my grandmother’s stories. For a long time where I lived there was no electricity, so there was no TV and no radio until (much later). So, much of what I know about storytelling comes directly from her imagination.”
He continued, “Some of the stories were literally freestyled. My grandmother made up characters as she went along and that’s how I made ‘The Burial of Kojo,’ where it kind of unravels like a dream. All of the stories my grandmother told were dreamlike. I would wake up the next morning and be like, ‘Did that really happen?’”
While the imagery in ‘The Burial of Kojo” is important, Bazawule does not want to put the film in a box.
“I’m not huge on labels because then it limits it,” Bazawule said. “Is this an Afrofuturist film? Is it Afro-surrealism? It becomes a bit restricting. I know that the story is rooted in a lot of truth and that’s what me, my cast, and crew were most focused on.”
In addition to writing and directing the film, Bazawule also scored the music, which is not hard to believe with his musical background.
Born and raised in Accra, Ghana, Bazawule grew up listening to Afro-Beat, hip hop, jazz, and Motown. When he moved stateside to attend Kent State University in Ohio, he made a name for himself on campus making mixtapes.
After graduation, he moved to New York to pursue visual arts and his music. He has released a few studio albums, formed a band, and adopted the moniker “Blitz” or “Blitz the Ambassador.” While cranking out music, he also had time to release a couple of short films. For Bazawule, making films is the ultimate expression of creativity.
“In terms of a particular medium, cinema is unmatched. But it also evokes a kind of empathy and I don’t think other forms of art have that urgency. When I watch a film, I immediately become that character and I go through what they go through. If I see a band or painting, it’s optional. But because of how much the senses are arrested when watching a film, you pull in that empathy.”
“The Burial of Kojo” features a wonderful cast of actors from Ghana and you can see them work their magic on Netflix starting March 31, 2019. Also, catch the film in select movie theaters in cities nationwide (see graphic below for cities and dates).
Meanwhile, the film recently won the Luxor African Film Festival grand prize for “Best Narrative Feature” in Egypt. It also went on to become the “Best Narrative Feature Winner” at the Urbanworld Film Festival in 2018. For more information on the film and ARRAY, go here.
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