The Scramble for Africa and The Boer War: Movie Review

Movie Review
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Movie Review
Summary
The video details the European scramble and partition of Africa and how the colonialists veiling their intentions as introducing civility to the continent have exploited it for the better part of the 20th century. The content is mainly anchored on how the existent problems facing Africa can be traced to the precolonial and colonial period which is the better part of the 21st century. It also describes how eventually the European powers lost their foothold in Africa and though they granted the continent independence, they set it up for failure for failing to leave strong institutions to govern itself. In the aftermath of colonization and through the period of decolonization, the video also describes how external forces continued shackling the African continent with each entity trying to exploit the continent to its advantage. It also details how the US also entered the scramble for Africa though its objectives were mainly ideologically-motivated in a bid to ensure that the continent did not ally with the Soviets during the cold war. The video also explains why the post-colonial Africa was marred by political instability notably many coups and how the nationalist movement that had led the continent to independence were rendered ineffective in leading Africa to prosperity. Finally, the video also details how European powers and the united states have continued to exploit African resources mostly illegally citing that the resources that have been illegally taken out of Africa can wipe the entire African foreign debt. The west and lately the Chinese have continued to fleece African out of her resources to the detriment of its people. However, it ends on a conciliatory note that a new wave of African leadership that seems to be sealing the loopholes that the external forces have used to continue exploiting the continent.
2. The positive aspects of the film
The film is clear in the way it addresses the subject and it is easily understandable. The directors put together a lot of original photos and video footage of colonial and post-colonial Africa. The characters who are featured to tell the story of African colonialism and the post-colonial development are well-versed with African affairs. Their consistency in African matters is admirable and they discuss the subject in a clear and concise manner. The voiceover is also clear and helps weave the opinions of the other characters featured in the video to advance the core objective of narrating the roots of African continent plight. Generally, the video is educative and amounts to an authoritative source of the subject matter.
3. The negative aspects of the film
Most of the original footage featured in the video is black and white because of the time it was taken. It is also not accompanied by voice to add to amplify its effects, rather it is voiced over. The video also features several interviews mainly to four main interviewees who have been featured in the film. However, the interviewers are all cut out of the film and specifically the questions they posed. Thus, the final product cuts out the interviewers questions that could help contextualize the answers given by the interviewees are lacking and cut out of the film.
4. How helpful the film was to me to better understand The Scramble for Africa
The film is important in understanding the subject matter. It is an authoritative source of information on the pre-colonial, colonial and some post-colonial African issues. The interviewers seem well-informed on the subject matter which is very factual. The impression they give about the content gives a new perspective to the issues that have plagued African since its independence. It shows how the west and mostly the European countries have continued fleecing the continent its resources. From the film, I understand what led to the colonization of Africa. It explains how the first and second world wars affected Africa and the different strategic objectives of European powers in the continent. It explains the reasons that led to independence and how independence paved a new road for Africa’s further exploitation during the post-colonial period. It also gives the reasons for some often-overlooked patterns such as why all African railway lines connect the mainland to the coastal ports. Thus, the film was instrumental in helping me understand the history of Africa and its people in the 21st century.
5. Personal opinion
I liked the film and I found it very educative and interesting. It has opened my understanding of understanding the role European powers played in determining the international boundaries of the African continent. This is something I had never thought of before. It was also well structured in an interesting manner. I also like the incorporation of original footages that depict African slavery, colonization, the struggle for independence and indepen...