I would disagree with anyone that thought this film is not held together by anything...thematic connections can be just as strong (and certainly more meaningful than) as those of a plot driven film. In this film the western hype surrounding the millenium is used as a contrast to the static of west africa. on the brink of the 21c it is sobering (but also joyful in its vitality) to see the reality of most of the worlds population. As we begin to feel we have discovered so much and advanced so far it is then that mans work really begins to improve social systems...to politically empower on the micro level... it is all there in the radio station, the poor farmer waiting for the government man to come and do something about the birds that eat the wheat in the fields but which they are not allowed to kill, the parade of people using the postoffice phone all rendered equal (including the military) by the fact that no one can be contacted by phone.... this all may sound very heavy but it is actually very light, full of mirth and colour.
Review of Life on Earth
