Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Monday, August 10, 2009
New York (TADIAS) – The award-winning Ethiopian film Guzo premiered at Helen Mills Theatre in New York City on Saturday, August 8, 2009 and received big thumbs up from the audience.
Robel and Lydia, two Addis Ababa urbanites, felt they had what it takes to live and survive in the countryside, doing the daily chores and farming with their respective host families. By day 17 they “wanted to go home.” Guzo does a spectacular job of capturing rural life, from grueling long walks to the market to late night Areqe inspired talk and dance. Robel and Lydia learn it is no small feat to survive and raise a family under such harsh and oftentimes monotonous conditions. Robel’s host mentions he will not miss Robel at work but bends his head and weeps when he realizes their days are numbered. A farmer’s wife, Belge, confesses that Lydia is the first female friend she’s had, and knows she will miss her for years to come. Guzo pulls at your heartstrings, often making you laugh till your belly aches and then suddenly forcing tears to well up in your eyes. It captures the beauty of Ethiopian culture, tradition, and all the heartache that comes with living with little resources. Although both Robel and Lydia claim that one cannot fully understand and appreciate rural life until they live it everyday, watching them work and survive 20 days brings one as close to the feeling as one could ever get.
The following Tadias video captures the audience’s reaction to Guzo.