NickLawFilmAnnotations9

Nicholas Lawrence Burning in the Sun
 * 1) Burning in the Sun, 2010, Cambria Matlow, Morgan Robinson


 * 1) The main argument of this film is that African nations can develop on their own without major outside help. In this case Daniel Dembele is trying to start his own solar panel business in Mali, where 99% of the people have no electricity.


 * 1) The documentary follows around Daniel highlighting the problems he encounters in trying to install local solar panels. It’s very easy to make a connection because all the footage is in Mali and Mali is rather poor. All the background scenes show a complete lack of development and as you watch it becomes very apparent how rare electricity is.


 * 1) This draws out ideas such as green development, renewable energy, infusion of western culture and self dependence.


 * 1) What I found most compelling was the finished solar panels. Despite being made from an assortment of things gathered around Mali, the finished product looked very professional. It wasn’t some rag tag garbage looking device. It looked like something I could by in a developed country. Also the product works. The lights lit up in that village they featured in the beginning. And all in all, the construction didn’t look to difficult.


 * 1) I was a little worried by the attitude of the people they were trying to teach. Quite a few of them seem very laid back or to not be taking the workshop very seriously. I don’t know it could be a culture difference but there was a clear difference in attitude between the American guy teaching them and Malians trying to learn.


 * 1) Well this film would be quite interesting to people living in Africa. However I don’t know how many people in Africa have access to TVs. Also this film addresses people in developed countries such as the United States. The movie does much to show that Africa given the right people and tools can develop itself. The western world shouldn’t view Africa as some poor starving country incapable of helping itself.


 * 1) This film was not about environmental problems. It did in a way promote renewable energy because it was all about installing solar panels. However this film was about a Malian helping Mali without large amount of aid or money. Adding environmental education would’ve been off topic.


 * 1) To be honest I had to leave before the end of the film. But I would guess the message of the film is that Africa isn’t totally helpless. Also if you want to help Africa, that’s okay but you should get rid of the bias growing up in the West has instilled in you.