Africa, Blood and Guts

Rating:
Summary: The apparently lost Africa Addio
Review: Africa Addio is one of the greatest achievements of documentary film making. It presented a balanced view of the white and black situation in Africa. But beware the picture was reedited for reissue with Sweet Sweetbacks Bad Song. It was redited and they totally destroyed the delicate balance of the original to pander to the urban black audiences. This is the version that seems to be available today. What a shame and an insult to two great film makers.

Rating:
Summary: Goodbye, 50 Minutes
Review: Africa Blood and Guts is Africa Addio with 50 of its 138 minutes cut out of it. The people responsible for Mondo Cane went into Africa in the 1960s to record the chaos that ensued after European colonialists began to withdraw after exploiting its people and resources for years. Africa Addio is still one of the most powerful and shocking documentaries ever made, and is still pertinent (those responsible for screwing up Iraq should take note of its lessons). Distributor Jerry Gross took the original film, stripped it of all its historical context and political savvy, and released what is basically just a gross-out film under the more sensational title "Africa Blood and Guts".

Blue Underground has released the uncut Africa Addio in its uncut version as part of the Mondo Cane collection. Get that instead if you can.

Rating:
Summary: An unblinking eye
Review: Good but not great document on the savagery of post-colonial africa.If you do not want to know the truth about those dark day's just close your eye's and look away,and look for another film.Just remember that the film's visual's are pretty bad and some part's are kind of boring.But where else can you see the naked truth laid out before you?From tribal slaughter,unresricted poaching and just general choas.The last 15-20 min. is worth the price of the film,showing Mike Hoare's Mercenary group in heavy action against the Simba warriors,the only such footage that I know to exist.