African Film Noir

A South African production described as a "modern-day film noir," Charlie Vundla's How to Steal 2 Million, was featured at the recently completed New York African Film Festival:

http://nigeriantimes.blogspot.mx/2012/04/nigerian-films-in-spotlight-at-new-york.html

http://www.africanfilmny.org/2012/19th-ny-african-film-festival/

How to Steal 2 Million. Charlie Vundla, 2011, South Africa, Digital; 90m

Five long years...that’s how long Jack spent in prison after getting pinched for robbery. His partner in crime and best friend, Twala, never got caught and Jack never talked. But Twala proved as treacherous as Jack is honourable by marrying Jack’s former fiancée during his prison term. Upon being released, Jack decides to go straight. He wants to start a construction business, but after being rejected for a loan he must find a new source of capital. An opportunity presents itself when Twala suggests they do a home invasion with a take worth two million South African Rand. The intended victim: Twala’s father, Julius. In his search for a third partner Jack comes across the tough, but sexy Olive. When the robbery goes wrong, secret double crosses are revealed and the tension builds towards an explosive, surprising finale in this dark and stylish modern-day film noir.

Other films shown at the Festival, such as Andy Amadi Okoroafor's Relentless, sound as if they possess potentially noir elements as well. The popular film industries of Africa, including Nigeria's "Nollywood" (which produces 1,000 to 2,000 video features per year), are said to often deal with crime and corruption, which are pressing issues in Africal life:

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/26/arts/film-when-there-s-too-much-of-a-not-very-good-thing.html

Most of the films are very cheaply made, undoubtedly quite rough, yet it could be fascinating to see how noir, which is nothing if not adaptable, transforms itself yet again in the context of an emergent continent with its share of troubles.

A bit of a real-life noir tale is playing itself out in the unresolved death last week of a very popular young Tanzanian actor, 28-year-old Steven Kanumba, who acted in Nollywood films:

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/comment/Lets+not+turn+Kanumbas+death+into+a+cheap+film+noir+/-/434750/1386272/-/6049rwz/-/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Kanumba

Kanumba was a prolific actor, writer, and director in the young industry, as his Wikipedia entry attests, but such is the paucity of information available on Nollywood, the IMDB only knows two of his credits:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2877261/