Agnes Lisa Wegner et Cece Mlay, Allemagne, Tanzanie, 2024
SYNOPSIS
Songea, Tanzania. John Mbano is on a mission to find the human remains of his great-grandfather, Songea Mbano, who was executed by the German colonial army. The family’s mourning has been passed down through the generations at Songea’s grave in which his head never found a resting place. Instead, it was shipped to Germany for racist research. John and his wife Cesilia embark on a life-changing journey. Buoyed by their resilience as they research, they finally decide to travel to Berlin to find the remains of John’s ancestor. There, they encounter activists whose voices are fighting Germany’s culture of denial. Along with them, the Mbanos confront those in power with their need to bring their ancestor home. What follows is a rollercoaster ride of new hopes and familiar disappointments. Even the historic visit of the German Federal President to John’s hometown fails to bring the beloved ancestor back home. The family’s search continues.
BIOFILMOGRAPHY
German filmmaker Agnes-Lisa Wegner, known for directing several films including König Bansah und seine Tochter (2020), and Tanzanian filmmaker Cece Mlay, the creator of works such as Aisha (2016), joined forces to co-direct The Empty Grave. This remarkable film has been selected for numerous festivals, including the 74th edition of the Berlinale in Germany.