Khalfan and Zanzibar

Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 E. 40th St., New York, NY 10016; 212-808-4980A film by Lina Fruzzetti, Alfred Guzzetti, and Akos OstorDirected by Lina Fruzzetti, Alfred Guzzetti, and Akos Ostor1999, VHS, color, 25 min. This film is a glimpse into the life of the disabled community on the island of Zanzibar, in East Africa. It is also a biography of one of the most prominent members of that community, Khalfan Hemed Khalfan. Khalfan lost the use of his legs in the late 1950's, while still a young man. With the help of his family he adapted to his new circumstances, but was frustrated by the barriers to access and education society threw in front of him. The authorities in his country classified him a "sick" person, which subsequently made him ineligible to leave the country to go to college. He was forced to use nothing more than his own tenacity, and the help of loved ones, to get an education. After dealing for many years with such obstacles, and seeing other disabled people forced to do the same, he started the Zanzibar Association of the Disabled (ZAD) in 1985. ZAD provides education and vocational training to the disabled of all ages, and the film focuses on scenes of ZAD members both at work and at play. The history of the organization is also described, as well as the ongoing challenge of keeping it open and viable. The viewer is exposed to a collage of images, showing not only the disabled but Zanzibar itself. The harbor, the island's ancient buildings, and the day to day existence of average citizens are shown. On and off throughout the film, a stream of text runs across the screen, indicating key dates and events in the history of Zanzibar. Khalfan describes some of that history, as well as the customs of his people and the problems they face. Included in his description is a brief history of his family. The film has no narration, save by Khalfan himself when he is being interviewed. There is little conversation between the individuals shown, and what is, is not always in English. Therefore, the viewer is often forced to garner meaning from only the images on the screen, and the intermittent stream of text previously described. The consequence of this is that the film is not as informative as it could be. It also seems to lack direction, and jumps haphazardly from concept to concept. The bits of history about Zanzibar, ZAD and Khalfan are tantalizing, but not satisfying. The viewer is left wanting more, and herein lies the film's greatest weakness. It gives too cursory an examination of what is undoubtedly an interesting and important subject! It doesn't serve to give a coherent or detailed description of either Khalfan, the disabled in Zanzibar, or the history of that country. This film is best suited for graduate and undergraduate students studying disability related issues, and only then as a supplement to other materials on the subject. Students of African affairs and African history may find some of the information contained to be useful, but that can be gathered more easily and in greater detail from other sources.