Gerard Essomba Movies
Political turmoil turns two lifelong friends into enemies in this drama. In the African nation of Tanzania, Dijmi (Haikail Zakaria) and Koni (Abdoulaye Ahmat) grew up in the same small village and have remained good friends into adulthood. Skyrocketing taxes lead to a revolt among the people of Tanzania, with citizens taking up arms to bring down a government they feel exploits them without representation. Koni and Dijmi join the rebel forces, but after a spell during which they fight side by side, Koni decides the rebels aren't doing enough for the revolution and breaks off with them to join a more extreme group, who soon find themselves at odds with the original revolutionary faction. Daresalam -- the name of Tanzania's largest city, which means "Haven of Peace" -- was shot on location in Chad, where director Issa Serge Coelo was born. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Haikail Zakaria
- 1998
Congolese filmmaker Mweze Ngangura, who made the 1987 La Vie Est Belle with Benoit Lamy, directed this Belgian-French-Congolese comedy about a Congolese king in contemporary Brussels. The title refers to "identity pieces" worn under a business suit to signify regal traditions. Gerard Essomba (the actual grandson of a king) portrays Mani Kongo, King of the Bakongo. Arriving in Brussels on a search for his daughter Mwana-Mwata (Dominique Mesa), King Kongo is unaware that she did time in prison and now dates cabdriver Chaka-Jo (composer Jean-Louis Daulne). In a near miss, King Kongo's ride from the airport is in Chaka-Jo's taxi. Policeman and former colonial administrator Jefke Schengen (Herbert Flack) has Mwana dancing at a club, while Mwana's roommate Safi (Cecilia Kandonda) enters into a romance with royal nephew Mayele (Thilombo Lubambu). Ngangura found some cast members of this film while making his documentary Letter to Makura (1995). The Jean-Louis Daulne music track features soukous singer Papa Wemba in a performance of the title tune. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gerard Essomba, Herbert Flack, (more)
- 1981
In a fictional African country that looks a lot like Paris where this film was shot, competing factions are after a precious map that gives the location of diamond and uranium deposits and underground petroleum stores. A French government official and some nasty cohorts are after the map, though a nationalist, outlawed group from the country hears that this official really wants to get control of their country as well and is fronting the money needed for such a move. Meanwhile, the president who does run the country is busy trying to eliminate all his opposition, a sure way of extending his term of office. All three factions must contend with each other before the map and the money for a planned coup can be retrieved by the right people. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gerard Essomba, Howard Vernon, (more)
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