Comments on: Interview: Yemane Demissie Talks About His Latest Film on Haile Selassie

By: Ten Arts and Entertainment Stories of 2011 at Tadias Magazine

Ten Arts and Entertainment Stories of 2011 at Tadias Magazine — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:02:42 +0000

[...] Yemane Demissie’s Film on Haile Selassie [...]

By: I-Search

I-Search — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:09:53 +0000

Enforced by the barrel of a gun, and character assassination, Communists, and miss-educated fools, imposed a culture of conformity on the people of Ethiopia; and denied us a differing point of view for a long time. Your documentary’s humble presentation is refreshing, and above all, reconnected us with our past. You are not only telling the story of the Emperor, but through H.I.M, also included the pioneers of modern Ethiopia and its people. I encourage Mimi to see the documentary beyond the animal farm mind set.
Regardless of, our interest to see a production like this, we should be aware that film requires vast amount of money and time. I encourage Ato Yemane, to set up a bank account for the next project, and I am confident many people are willing to fund the brother.
Big Up!

R.O.G

By: Alemu

Alemu — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:50:39 +0000

As a memeber of the younger generation, I can’t stress my respect and love for Janhoy enough. He did great things in difficult circumstances. We were lucky to have had such a figure our lives and I can see a wave of renewed admiration from those of us in our teens and twenties.

By: Samuel K

Samuel K — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:58:26 +0000

If anyone could do justice to the Emperor’s story, then it is only Yemane who could do it. The interview itself is great; he does not pass judgement. He lets us do it. As decades have passed and we had witnesses two of the worst and inadequate leaders Ethiopia has ever seen, History is treating the Emperor much kindly than the lost revolutionary generation did. Just ask any kid who Emperor Haile Selassie was and they talk about almost a mythical and benevolent figure.

I look forward to seeing this movie. All the best for Yemane. His greatest movies are yet to be made.

By: Abee

Abee — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:10:16 +0000

This was nice beginning by Yemane Demisse. As he stated in the interview it is hard to finalize 60 years of great work in one hour documentary. As I said though it is great work. The second part should be interviewing foreigners. Time is running down but great people like Queen Elisabeth II should also include in the least.

Please join this facebook group which is dedicated to his majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. Over 600 pictures included in this group including some interesting documents. Join the group and learn more about Ethiopia’s last King.

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_202969769722269&ap=1

Thanks

By: Senait

Senait — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 20:27:47 +0000

Dear Tadias,

Thank you. Wonderful interview. I look forward to watching the movie some day! Keep up the good work!

Senait from Texas

By: syoum gebregziabher

syoum gebregziabher — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:21:42 +0000

Congratulation for the job well done. Hope you will expand the twilight of other leaders as well.

It has been a historical reality of our significant leaders and personalities to go through “ a period or condition of decline following growth, glory, or success”. They all reach the twilight of their life!

This is the period we all have to go through in our lives between susnset and darkness.

Is there a wisdom and sagacity for one to recognize the sunset before the darkness and remain at the sunset?

By: real

real — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:07:11 +0000

I hope this film will screen in the Bay Area.

By: Ras Mitat

Ras Mitat — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:27:57 +0000

Ababa Janhoy Lezelalem yinuru! Ethiopia Tikdem! Enashenifalen!

By: Mimi

Mimi — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:11:27 +0000

Sorry, its me again. By the way, I found Bulcha Demeksa’s interview to be the most informative in terms of his explanation of the imperial regime’s economic troubles. I found it totally shocking that soldiers and teachers were going unpaid for months and months because the country’s treasury was pretty much bankrupt.

By: Mimi

Mimi — Tue, 31 May 2011 01:43:30 +0000

I did attend the screening also. I would say it is an honest movie with a pro-Haile selassie bias.

By: Welansa

Welansa — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:45:29 +0000

Quite an interesting film! It gave us a small glimpse into the Emperor’s life, character, interests, losses and faith.

I was surprised by a few items:

-the high regard that the men had towards W/O Senedu – a woman that was appartently way ahead of her time
-Interesting fact cited by W/o Marta Gabre-Tsadick regarding Ethiopian immigration to the US – I was blown away by the fact she cited about 1966 – a fact that suggests that life in Ethiopia was not all that bad.

There’s a lot to this 56 minute film…..I’m quite glad I had the chance to see it.

By: Phoebe

Phoebe — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:31:21 +0000

Great interview!

By: Tsehai

Tsehai — Thu, 26 May 2011 05:07:15 +0000

Why is history researched and thought by hard working people like this filmmaker and professor? If I may answer my own question, it’s so that humanity doesn’t repeat the same mistake as those who came before us. But the bigger question is have we learned anything from 20th century Ethiopia, Haile Selassie and even, for that matter, Mengistu Hailemariam, who berried Haile Selassie under his office for seventeen years? BTW that’s some sick and crazy stuff requiring its own horror movie. For me though, the answer is NO! I am afraid we Ethiopians are bound to repeat the same mistake because we have no sense of the human limitation, as individuals and as a country, that all things in life, good, bad and ugly, must always come to an end, as sure as the sun rises each day. In order to assure our continuity as one people, we must first establish that as human-beings each one of us has our unique limitations. dir biyaber anbessa yasser. That’s the secret.

By: Tazabe

Tazabe — Thu, 26 May 2011 02:41:54 +0000

Born and raised outside of the mother land my linkage b/n my Ethiopian and Jamaican brothers and sisters has been Ras. Did I say blood tie. That’s real!

By: Abebe Haregewoin

Abebe Haregewoin — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:57:23 +0000

I am surprised and delighted to learn about the brave attempts to put into film the life and times of one of the titans of the last century, Emperor Haile Selassie. Those of us “baby boomers” who spent most of our formative years during his reign, saw him growing up as infallible and appointed by God. We invoked his name and swore by his name. He was ubiquitous and venerated presence. This was reinforced by society, the church, and his historical role in world affairs such as his speech at the League of Nations. Indeed he also managed to romance the world to view him as the most venerated leader to come out of Africa. But by the time the sixties rolled in and the winds of change that were sweeping revolutions, liberation movements and the voices of socialism percolated in our heads, [our image] of the emperor started to evaporate and melt away. The failed coup to overthrow him was a shock and also a clarion call both for the emperor and the people on what was to come. In reality, most of us were not sure what the change would have been if the coup had succeeded. But the hanging of the corpses of the perpetrators of the coup revealed savagery and his dark side. With time it became clear that the emperor will refuse to abdicate his so called “god-given” right to rule as he sees fit. Emperor Haile Selassie had a long and complicated life and knew how to manipulate power. But, at the end, he was not [quick enough] to adapt to the changing environment around him and the world. History has now recast him in a different light. He is no more the hated monarch but an important, if not the most important, player in the dramatic and long history of the Land of Sheba. Hope this film will present us with more fuel for our love/hate relationship with one of the most significant personalities of our times. Thank you Demissie.

By: Mahder

Mahder — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:03:13 +0000

Sounds intriguing. Looking forward to seeing the film. Thanks for your documentation of history. Will it by any chance premiere in other parts of the country?