Comments on: A Conversation with Haile Gerima

By: Meet Young Entrepreneur Eskat Asfaw | College Shuttles at Tadias Magazine

Meet Young Entrepreneur Eskat Asfaw | College Shuttles at Tadias Magazine — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:08:50 +0000

[...] Other profiles by Martha Z. Tegegn Exclusive Interview With Ethiopian Legend Teshome Mitiku (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) Why Girls Gotta Run: Interview with Dr. Patricia E. Ortman A Conversation with Haile Gerima [...]

By: Dereje Gashu

Dereje Gashu — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:31:00 +0000

Long live Haile, you said it well “I would rather have less money and more freedom” Many film makers had great ideas but lost control of their story due to their financial strugle, as a result, those with the money get to decide what to make of the movie. Gash Haile is far the greatest Ethiopian filmmaker, philosopher, and teacher. He challenges us to question the purpose of our existence. The great philosopher Socrates once said “The unexamined life is not worth living” by examining, he means asking question like why do we exist,what is our purpose in this world, being a good citizen? Haile is living the examined life. He proved it by choosing to direct his film with less money than sell his story to other with more money. As I see it, for Haile, the most important thing is passing the message as genuine as it can be. He was right when he said the new generation is materialistic. we value our car, house or even clothes more than we value our culture. Maybe it is time we start listining to wise individuals like gash Haile.

Amesegnalew

By: Tadias TV: Haile Gerima On The Challenges Of Independent Filmmaking at Tadias Magazine

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:45:06 +0000

[...] Lacking Shelter at Home and Abroad (NYT Movie Review) A Conversation with Haile Gerima (Tadias Magazine) For Filmmaker, Ethiopia’s Struggle Is His Own (The New York Times) Teza, Portrait of an Ethiopian [...]

By: TEZA To Premier in New York at Tadias Magazine

TEZA To Premier in New York at Tadias Magazine — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:28:03 +0000

[...] Related from Tadias Magazine A Conversation with Haile Gerima [...]

By: woldu yitagesu

woldu yitagesu — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:43:00 +0000

Our history has been snatched and told by the non Ethiopians and we believe that version but which is wrong and misrepresenting. I can give you some tips about the Ethiopian philosopher Zeareayakob, but even we don’t accepted him yet as a thinker. We are honored to have new philosopher ato Haile Gerima. He is not only a filmmaker and story teller, but also a narrator and a shining constellations of Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Perseus and Cepheus with his films Teza, Adwa, Bush Mama and Sankofa.

By: Tadias’ Top 20 Most Read Stories of the Year at Tadias Magazine

Tadias’ Top 20 Most Read Stories of the Year at Tadias Magazine — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:55:18 +0000

[...] October 2009 A Conversation with Haile Gerima For filmmaker Haile Gerima the travails of life are much like moving images – “a constant [...]

By: Dorowet

Dorowet — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:31:27 +0000

Prof. Gerima, is one in a million. He is a true Ethiopian. God bless him!

By: Eskinder Asfaw

Eskinder Asfaw — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:08:44 +0000

Gash Haile is one of an incredible, intellectual and true Ethiopian that I’m proud of him. I have one question for him. What are you doing to share the immense knowledge that you have to the young generation of Ethiopia. I believe there are Ethiopians with a great potential but they are left with little opportunities, don’t you think they require your unreserved support??? I assume we have to nurture our people so that we will have few Haile Gerima if not many.

Wish you all the best and long life to you !!!!

By: Efrutik

Efrutik — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:02:34 +0000

Marta check http://www.Sankofa.com

Thank you for this article. But most importantly Gashe Haile Girma, thank you is not enough for your efforts in making this film. I sat watching the film with my parents and my grandmother. Both of my parents could recall what happened in the film as it reflected much of what they had long had in their memories. Their life and mine has been revealed in the film like never before on the big screen. Gashe, I could go on and and on about how the film made me feel but it is not the time and place I think to be honest. But I do have one question, could you please teach me more of my history please?

By: martha tefera

martha tefera — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:15:02 +0000

How can we contact Haile Gerima? Where can we purchase his movies ? Has he written books ?

By: Allan

Allan — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:23:03 +0000

Although I am not Ethiopian by birth I am deeply connected and involved with Ethiopian people, culture, affairs and lifestyles and I admire the accomplishments of a filmmaker such as Haile Gerima, as well as other Ethiopian artists, athletes and scientists. Teza stands out as a great testament to this particular movie-makers vision, wisdom and intelligence and I am even more proud of the fact that he was interviewed by an Ethiopian female journalist. Gobez! It is a great moment when a “star” movie-maker is interviewed by one of his own people, especially one with such astute, wide ranging and insightful questions as Ms Tegegn. It was an absolute pleasure to read this article. I wish Mr Gerima well and all the best to Ms Tegegn who seems to have a great future ahead of her, if not already an accomplished career.

I look forward to seeing her work in the Washington Post, Time Magazine or other international publications.

By: A Conversation with Filmmaker Haile Gerima « FilmingAfrica

A Conversation with Filmmaker Haile Gerima « FilmingAfrica — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:11:29 +0000

[...] Read the rest @ http://www.tadias.com/2009/09/17/a-conversation-with-filmmaker-haile-gerima/ [...]

By: Teddy

Teddy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:15:55 +0000

I have not gotten a chance to watch the movie yet, and to be honest, until recently, I did not even have the fortune to know about Haile Gerima other than the fact that he made a movie I saw bits and pieces of a long time ago. I always heard his name, but never took the time to know about him, and through knowing about him, to know about me and the connection to Ethiopia. I was fortunate enough to talk for a few minutes with him recently, and I find his humility and his intellect mind boggling. I often get discouraged when I see purported “leaders” who claim the mantle of leadership while sitting on their arses. Then once in a while I run into a man like Haile Germa, and I realize that negative experiences should never overshadow the blessings of positive interactions. And what Gash Gerima said is so true, the young generation, the next generation of Ethiopians have the power inherent in us to make a tremendous impact in our community and beyond. Too often though, we let our negative experiences be our crutch for our inaction and our frustration be validation for our inertia. Reading this article in between coffee and an excel spreadsheet gave me pause, because I hear in Haile’s voice a clarion call for action, it is up to us to choose if we are the lost generation, if we will let our self-centered and ego-driven selves destroy the good that exists in our community, or if we shed the burden of past failures and clutch onto a branch of unity. I hope, Gash Haile, that your words serve to motivate one person for even a few minutes to reassess and take action. Through your words, I was able to identify a weakness in my own persona, I hope you reach others through your words and through their prisms of thoughts.

Ameseganalew

By: germa

germa — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:23:09 +0000

Endate aawaaki nachew? gobez!

By: ABEL

ABEL — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:35:43 +0000

It took me a while to realize the “t” is explosive in Teza [meaning Dew]. Now that Ato Haile has depicted Derg-era atrocities, he should likewise turn his camera on current conditions in Ethiopia.

By: Begna

Begna — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:37:01 +0000

I feel it is too pessimistic! Don’t get me wrong I love Haile and I think he is a brilliant filmmaker. However, I feel the subject matters that he invokes are too harsh, too painful, too complicated, they focus on the negative aspects of life. True, they are based on realities and historical facts. But they are always peppered with Haile’s gloomiest possible view. I am hoping the next big hit from Haile will be a comedy:-) Nonetheless, I always watch his movies because I think he is great. As to Teza, it is universal story of love, loss, innocence, idealism, courage, defeat, and of course, the unnecessary barbaric-violence. People, take note. Well done!

By: ermyas

ermyas — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:55:16 +0000

oh that was a wonderful movie. It is awesome.

By: Hannah S

Hannah S — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:24:57 +0000

I feel that this film is in many ways, not only about humans caught in the workings of a revolution, but in itself a revolution. It has won major prizes in the west but its the way that Africans have responded that really reflects its importance. Who would have known that when we tell our own stories, stories with beauty and depth bound within our traditions, others would be listening? This is an act of courage, an act of saying to Africa, to Ethiopia, you matter and exist within yourself. Wonderful.

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:27:20 +0000

that was a good film!

By: Alefe

Alefe — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:03:33 +0000

I am deeply touched and feel proud about the story

By: Senait Abebe

Senait Abebe — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:55:37 +0000

What a sweet moment for Gashe Haile. Finally Ethiopians are welcoming him home as the long lost son and brother. There was a time that Haile was not endorsed or embraced by fellow Ethiopians of his generation. In fact many were disrespectful of him because of his views and ambitions as a young man to be a filmmaker. However, African-Americans have been the biggest supporters of Professor Haile and received and continues to receive big love for Sankofa and others . I am glad to see that Haile is telling his story and Ethiopians are listening. What a beautiful thing after a long, difficult, and lonely journey as an artist. I agree with Ayele Bekerie that “Teza signifies Gashe Haile’s notion of the audacity of invention.” Congratulations Gash Haile!

By: Haile

Haile — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:19:03 +0000

Gashe Halie did play his role magnificently to remember that generation and he has challenged us all to read that generation’s experience to pick some lessons about us and about our country. That generation took a bend to destruction by trusting communism as a recipe to cure our ills. Now, another generation is taking a new bend by selling its soul to materialism. Money is becoming the only religion around. We need to stand in the gap and give a wake up call before another destruction is consumed. Our God fearing forefathers were poor by western standards. But we haven’t yet grown up to treasure what they have passed to us with great sacrifice.

By: Ayele Bekerie

Ayele Bekerie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:31:36 +0000

"Ethiopia is a country that has the audacity to invent without imitation." This is indeed a powerful statement. To me, Teza signifies Gashe Haile's notion of the audacity of invention. It is about yeagerun serdo beageru bere. It is also about believing in ourselves and in our cultures.

By: Temari

Temari — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:41:01 +0000

Gash Haile is a born storyteller and an attentive one at that. His characters are always complicated and confusing, yet educational. That’s why I consider him a teacher and an artist and a true independent filmmaker, in the literal sense of the word. My favorite line here: “I would rather have less money and more freedom.” For me, that’s a mark of a true artist. Allow me to congratulate Haile and his team on the success of Teza in Europe and Africa and for all the deserved awards it has collected. Are there any plans in the near future to bring Teza to the West Coast? If not, what can we do to make it happen in a University setting?