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by Rod Amis

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G21.net Established on the WWW 1996 25,000-(And Counting) Articles Served (per Google.com) Issue #467: THE LAST WALTZ G21 AFRICA STEVE OGAH, NIGERIA GLOBAL*BEAT ROD AMIS, USA HOT LINKS RADIO RAHEEM, USA IRISH EYES MATTIE LENNON, IRELAND JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. It contains more jokes than not. G21 E-MAIL NEWSLETTER ON FILM MORAA GITAA, KENYA ON FILM BRAD BALFOUR, USA SMOKE & MIRRORS ROD AMIS, G21 World HQ VOX POPULI YOU, THE WORLD THE PREVIOUS EDITION MEET THE G-CREW! These are the people behind this jam-band every week. HOME TABLE OF CONTENTS & BACK ISSUES BECOME A SPONSOR OF THE WORLD'S MAGAZINE. WHY should you advertise here? We'll tell you. We know you're lazy. Here's a button for a quick translation of this page. Just click on the flag for your country. You're welcome! OR TRY THIS GOOGLE TRANSLATION SERVICE.

GLOBAL*BEAT - BIRO: A UGANDAN'S JOURNEY: Our Publisher, ROD AMIS, reviews the new DVD release of Cinema Libre Studio's "Biro: Beware of Time," the film of NTARE MWINE's acclaimed film performed at the Ugandan National Theatre in 2003. [VIEW THE FILM TRAILER HERE.]

18 June 2007, Austin, TX, USA: Cinema Libre Studio, with whom G21.net has had a long-standing relationship, released the film "Biro: Beware of Time" at the end of May on DV D. The film presents a live performance of the play "Biro" by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine recorded at Uganda's National Theatre in 2003. This powerful production, a one-man show, has received international acclaim and mesmerized audiences around the globe.

Mwine has a wiry, compelling and moving stage presence that he puts to good use in this production. The special stage elements are minimalist but effective. The story he tells, of a Uganda soldier who fights against the ruling regime, travels to Cuba - where he discovers he has contracted AIDS - and then makes his way to Texas in the United States in the hope of getting treatment is both historically instructive and cautionary.

"Biro" was a 2004 New York Times Critics Pick, and has been hailed by newspapers here in the USA, Canada, the UK, Zimbabwe, etc., as a stunning achievement. It is not exaggerating to call it a tour-de-force. The balance of laughter and tears in this story is magical. Mwine's work honors the continued appreciation and tradition of the griote, the great African storyteller, in its delivery and presentation.

The play opens with Biro being released from his cell in a Texas jail to meet with his third potential lawyer. He has been held by Immigration - because he entered the USA illegally getting work with forged documents - for over two years while also facing criminal charges for crimes he insists he did not commit. The conceit of Mwine's script is that Biro recounts the story of his life - and how he came to these circumstances - to the lawyer in the interview room of the prison. Because of the craft of Mwine's writing style, we are drawn into that story within the first five minutes of the play.

Mwine's skills at mimicry [view the trailer included with this piece] and ability to cover various national accents, adds to the fun of watching this performance. He is also a master of knowing when to hit the correct dramatic note, be it pathos, humor, exhilaration, anger or despair. And there is a lot of despair in this play. From the despair of an indigent East Africa, to the despair of war, the despair of those suffering from AIDS during the period covered, and the despair and loneliness of a stranger in a strange land far from home and loved ones. Wisely, Mwine's play counterbalances these universal human experiences with the equally available ones of hope, love, compassion and laughter.

During the process, he also provides his audience with a history lesson; not only the history of his native Uganda but also of global geopolitics and their increasing influence on our world. He looks with unvarnished heroism on the effects of globalization as the world becomes more (theoretically) mature. He uses a light touch in these instances but his message is clear and powerful.

As with most of the films from Cinema Libre Studios This Reviewer has recommended to you over the years, the perspective of this film is libertarian to leftist. There is a social critique worth considering. That takes nothing away from either Mwine's play or his performance in this piece. "Biro" is well worth your time and consideration and, yes, your ducats. It is a very human and humane story.

For readers who love the theater, good writing and polished acting, this is a film you'll want to add to your collection to view again and again.

[VIEW THE FILM TRAILER HERE.]