THE EMPTY GRAVE
[DAS LEERE GRAB]
Songea, Tanzania. John Mbano is a young lawyer on a mission. His great-grandfather, a leader of the Ngoni people, was executed by the German colonial army and his remains taken to Germany for racist research. John and his wife Cesilia embark on a life-changing journey, traveling to Berlin in search of their ancestor's remains. There they join forces with activists challenging Germany's culture of denial. What follows is a rollercoaster of triumphs and setbacks. Not even the historic visit of Germany's federal president to John's hometown heralds the return of their beloved ancestor. Yet the Mbano family refuses to relent. THE EMPTY GRAVE is a film about resilience, lost loved ones and the complexities of institutional power. Beyond the debates lies a poignant tale of violated lives and the struggle for a future disentangled from a painful past. (Note adapted from Kijiweni Productions.) Official Selection, 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. DIR/SCR Cece Mlay, Agnes Lisa Wegner; PROD Christoph Holthof, Daniel Reich, Luna Selle, Amil Shivji. Germany/Tanzania, 2024, color, 97 min. In English, Swahili and German with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Run Time: 97 Minutes
Opening Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Genre: Documentary
