The Nights Smell Of Gunpowder is a new documentary that shines a light on one of the often forgotten wars in African history.
From 1977 to 1992, the Mozambican Civil War between the Frelimo and insurgent Renamo parties raged on leaving a trail of mass destruction. In all more than one million people died with five million more being displaced.
In the documentary, director Inadelso Cossa sits down with his grandmother to discuss the legacy of the war and its lingering effects. It’s a war that they know all too well because they lived through it.
“In a country grappling with a collective genocide of history, my cinema focuses on memory, particularly the aftermath of Mozambique’s civil war,” Cossa said via statement. “The Nights Still Smell of Gunpowder aims to document untold traumas and challenge societal silence.”
“As I return to my grandmother’s village armed with the tools of cinema, the narrative unfolds through a personal dialogue, extending to other characters, including an ex-rebel,” continues Cossa. “This former combatant becomes an essential part of the cinematic vision, embodying the complexities of memory, forgiveness, and healing.”
Sadly, history is threatening to repeat itself as the country is once again rife with resurfaced tension between the parties on the verge of its presidential election later this year.
The Nights Still Smell of Gunpowder is set to make its world premiere next month at the Berlin International Film Festival with plans for a worldwide release soon after.
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