New Liberian Movie Hits the Rivoli Cinema…
Published: 29 February, 2008
The Liberian movie industry (Liberwood) will today Friday light up the Rivoli Cinema on Broad Street with one of the grandest movies ever to hit the silver screen in post war Liberia. The movie with its central theme focusing on reconciliation is the debut effort of the Dayo-Collins Production. “Line of Bitterness” portrays the deep rooted bitterness occasioned by the more than a decade and half of “near-fratricidal genocide” in Liberia, especially between the Gio and Mandingo tribes.
The movie brings to the silver screen a display of how members of one family (Gio), during the civil war, lead an attack on another family (Mandingo) resulting to the killing of a beloved member of the latter family, something which left a scar on the mind of members of the victimized family.
Several years after the crisis, two young members of the formerly rival families become emotionally attracted to each other, not knowing that they both share an ugly pass. But the parents of the lovers soon find out and then, “hell breaks loose”.
“Line of Bitterness” bespeaks the height to which the Liberian movie industry has reached; ranging from the perfect sound quality and elegant costumes to the high level of eloquence and excellent stage performances. The movie features some of Liberwood's hottest artistes including Magnus Brooks, Franklin Cole, Hawa Morgan-Tyler, Harding Whitnies, Etmonia Martin, and the man behind it all, George Dayo-Collins.
At the launching of the movie on Sunday, February 23, at the Monrovia City Hall, Assistant Minister of Information Madam Scholastica Doe said she was personally honored to be a part of such a program. The government official was quick to point out that Liberian artistes are working very hard but are not getting the kind of support they are to get. “It is unfortunate that our artistes have to go through a lot to make sure they make it.” Min. Doe said though an untold number of Liberians lost their lives to the war, Liberians should be thankful for the many who are alive today and telling the Liberian story in their own ways. “This,” she said,” will help us not to revert to the ugly pass.”
The City Hall Program also featured some of LIB's Hip-Co Artistes including SWITCH of G-man records. He set the hall in an uproar with his hit,” “Don't Diss the Girls.”
Also taking the stage on that night was the man Marvelous who is famous for blending his songs with a taste of his Bassa dialect, and then the lady Gloria, a hip-hop maniac.
Meanwhile, the Rivoli Cinema on Broad Street will today, at 12 noon, officially screen, for the first time in Liberia, Liberwood's latest movie, “Line of Bitterness.”
In an interview with Arts Culture and Entertainment during the week, Mr. George Dayo-Collins, CEO of the Dayo-Collins Production said the movie was his own way of contributing his quota to the ongoing peace and reconciliation process in the country.
“We believe people take more to what they see than to what they hear.” The movie star who began his acting career in 1998 said this debut production by his group was a rather tedious and tough task. According to him, thousands of dollars was absorbed into the process. But he expressed optimism that he would be able to achieve much financial returns from the movie because of its quality.
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