Bad Black

Last updated
Bad Black
Bad Black poster.jpg
Directed byNabwana I.G.G.
Written byNabwana I.G.G.
Alan Ssali Hofmanis
Produced byNabwana I.G.G.
Alan Ssali Hofmanis
Starring
  • Nalwanga Gloria
  • Alan Ssali Hofmanis
  • Bisaso Dauda
Narrated byVJ Emmie
CinematographyNabwana I.G.G.
Edited byNabwana I.G.G.
Music byKizito Vicent
Production
company
Distributed by Wakaliwood
Release dates
  • September 25, 2016 (2016-09-25)(Fantastic Fest)
  • December 21, 2019 (2019-12-21)(YouTube)
Running time
69 minutes
CountryUganda
LanguagesLuganda
English
BudgetUS$65[ citation needed ]

Bad Black is a 2016 Ugandan action-comedy film written, produced, and directed by Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana (IGG), by Wakaliwood, an ultra low-budget studio in Kampala, Uganda. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

A man named Swaaz, shortened for Schwarzenegger, robs a bank and gets chased by police. He orders his child assistant, Buddy Spencer, to jump from the car with the money as he leads police elsewhere. After being chased for some time, Swaaz is eventually trapped and is killed when he accidentally shoots his car, causing it to explode.

In the slums of Kampala, Uganda, a young girl runs away from home and ends up in a child trafficking ring led by a former Uganda People's Defence Force commando in the ghetto. One day, while collecting metal scraps, she is viciously assaulted by multi-millionaire Hirigi when she mistakenly takes the tire iron of his van. After enduring weeks of abuse and witnessing other children being murdered in cold blood, the girl takes matters into her own hands and kills the ring leader.

Ten years later, the girl has grown up to become "Bad Black", and the ghetto children have become the biggest crime syndicate in Kampala with Black as the leader. She seduces Hirigi in a bar to exact her revenge on him. Meanwhile, Alan Ssali, an American doctor whose whole family were allegedly U.S. Army commandos, is in Kampala giving aid to the people of the slums. He encounters Bad Black, who mistakes him for a commando due to his designer dog tags. After receiving Alan's business card, Bad Black sneaks into his hotel and steals his money and passport. When the police refuse to help him, Alan receives kung fu commando training from his young assistant, known by his pseudonym "Wesley Snipes", before storming through the slums to look for Bad Black.

Hirigi's teenage son, Kenny, is banished by his father and goes to Black's gang in search for drugs. Hirigi tells Black about his plans to buy the ghetto and throw the gang out. Black brings Hirigi to her grandma where it is revealed that Hirigi is Black's grandfather and that he has been dating a ghetto woman. Hirigi threatens Black by throwing her out and runs away disgusted.

One day, a drug deal between Bad Black and a rival syndicate is disrupted by Kampala Police forces. The gangsters frantically run away from the cops, only to be gunned down by Alan, who corners Bad Black and recovers his dog tags before handing her to the police. At the prison, Black meets a fellow female inmate named Flavia who claims that her rich father banished her and that she never got to see her own child after birth before being taken to prison. Later that night, Kenny and the syndicate attempt to break Black out. The following riot allows two other women to escape but Black stays with Flavia to comfort her as she is set to be released in two days. Days later, Flavia is released and is present at Black's trial. Black explains that her father was Swaaz and that he robbed the bank to pay for the expenses of her birth but also claims that her mother was killed during the birth. It is then revealed that Flavia is Black's mother and the two hug as the court is adjourned.

Three months later, Alan resumes his medical mission in Wakaliga, but with Bad Black as his nurse. Hirigi's wife suddenly appears and opens fire at the medical camp, killing Alan in the process.

Cast

  • Nakatudde Madinah as young Flavia

Release and reception

Bad Black had its world premiere at the 2016 Fantastic Fest, where it won the Audience Award and Nabwana IGG won the Best Director award for Action Features. [3]

The film was released alongside Who Killed Captain Alex? in the Wakaliwood Supa Action Vol. 1 Blu-ray/DVD combo by the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) on 14 May 2019. The Blu-ray release features the option to watch Who Killed Captain Alex? with or without the VJ Emmie narration, plus subtitles in 40 languages, and welcome videos by Nabwana IGG for 14 countries. [4]

Much like Who Killed Captain Alex?, Bad Black was generally received well by critics and audiences alike. Richard Kuipers of Variety called the film "A no-budget brew of comedy, action and wisecracking voiceover narration by self-taught Ugandan filmmaker Nabwana I.G.G." [5]

Bad Black was a critical and audience favorite at the 2017 Seattle International Film Festival. [6] [7] The film earned an encore presentation on the last day of the festival, making the total number of screenings four. [6] The Seattle audience question and answer session with the director was on Skype. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kampala</span> Capital and the largest city of Uganda

Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 3,846,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Rubaga Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entebbe raid</span> 1976 Israeli counter-terrorist operation

The Entebbe raid or Operation Entebbe, officially codenamed Operation Thunderbolt, was a 1976 Israeli counter-terrorist mission in Uganda. It was launched in response to the Palestinian-led hijacking of an international civilian passenger flight operated by Air France between the cities of Tel Aviv and Paris. During a stopover in Athens, the aircraft was hijacked by two Palestinian PFLP–EO terrorists and two German RZ terrorists, who diverted the flight to Libya and then to Uganda, where they landed at Entebbe International Airport to be joined by other terrorists. Once in Uganda, the group enjoyed support from Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

<i>Bad Boys</i> (1995 film) 1995 action film directed by Michael Bay

Bad Boys is a 1995 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Michael Bay in his feature directorial debut, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith as two Miami narcotics detectives Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was commercially successful and spawned three sequels: Bad Boys II (2003), Bad Boys for Life (2020), and an untitled fourth Bad Boys film (2024).

<i>Victory at Entebbe</i> 1976 television film directed by Marvin J. Chomsky

Victory at Entebbe is a 1976 American made-for-television action-drama film for broadcast on ABC, directed by Marvin J. Chomsky. The film starred Helmut Berger, Linda Blair, Anthony Hopkins, Burt Lancaster, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Dreyfuss, and Kirk Douglas. Julius Harris portrayed Idi Amin, following the fatal heart attack suffered by the actor originally cast in the role, Godfrey Cambridge. The film was theatrically released in Europe.

This is an article about a Ugandan notable musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saba Saba</span> Ugandan musician

Saba Saba, also known as Krazy Native is a rapper and social activist from Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norbert Mao</span> Ugandan lawyer and politician

Norbert Mao is a Ugandan political activist and lawyer. He has been president of the Democratic Party since 2010, three time presidential candidate and he served as the Local Council 5 chairman for Gulu District. He is the current minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the Ugandan government, an office he assumed on 21 July 2022. He was appointed to this position by Yoweri Museveni, the president of the Republic of Uganda. This appointment drew immense criticism from the Democratic Party, an opposition party he is currently serving as president. It was seen as a move by President Museveni to tame the Party and clip its wings to criticize his government.

King’s College Budo is a mixed, residential, secondary school in Central Uganda (Buganda).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of Uganda</span> Filmmaking in Uganda

The emerging film industry in Uganda is known as Ugawood or sometimes Kinauganda by the locals. The 2005 production Feelings Struggle directed by Ashraf Ssemwogerere is credited with being the first Ugawood film. Many have asserted that this steadily growing film industry is derived from Hollywood, in the same manner as Nollywood and Bollywood. In a story that ran in a local newspaper in Uganda about the naming of the industry, filmmakers Kuddzu Isaac, Matt Bish and Usama Mukwaya were quoted as saying that Ugawood would be the most appropriate name for the industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobi Wine</span> Ugandan opposition leader, musician, activist, and actor

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is a Ugandan politician, singer, and actor. He is a former Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East constituency in Wakiso District, in Uganda's Central Region. He also leads the National Unity Platform political party. In June 2019, he announced his candidacy for the 2021 Ugandan presidential election. He participated in the 2021 election, in which, according to official results, he lost to incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, although he claims this result was fraudulent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Kampala bombings</span> Suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda

On 11 July 2010, suicide bombings were carried out against crowds watching a screening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final at two locations in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The attacks left 74 dead and 85 injured. Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militia based in Somalia that has ties to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the blasts as retaliation for Ugandan support for AMISOM. In March 2015, the trial of 13 Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian alleged perpetrators of the bombings began at the High Court of Uganda.

<i>Who Killed Captain Alex?</i> 2010 Ugandan film directed by Nabwana I.G.G

Who Killed Captain Alex? is a 2010 Ugandan action comedy film written, produced, and directed by Nabwana Isaac Geoffrey Godfrey (IGG), by Wakaliwood, an ultra low-budget studio in Kampala, Uganda. The film gained viral notoriety for being a no-budget action film, produced on a reported budget of under $200 although producer Alan Hofmanis later stated that the production value was in fact $85. A trailer for the film was uploaded to YouTube in January 2010 and the full film was uploaded in March 2010, and has been viewed over 8.9 million times as of November 2023. The original version of the film was lost due to power outages and "strained conditions" according to Nabwana, while the surviving version of Who Killed Captain Alex? released online includes commentary from an English-speaking "Video Joker" that includes running gags about the characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddy Kenzo</span> Ugandan musical artist

Edrisah Kenzo Musuuza, known professionally as Eddy Kenzo, is a Grammy-nominated Ugandan singer, music executive & the president of Uganda National Musicians Federation who is a founder and a member of Big Talent Entertainment. He received international attention after the release of his 2014 single, "Sitya Loss" and an accompanying viral video that featured the Ghetto Kids. In total, he has released 4 albums, including Roots in 2018 and most recently Made in Africa in 2021. Kenzo has also won numerous national and international awards, including a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award in 2018, a BET Award in 2015, and multiple All Africa Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wakaliwood</span> Film studio

Wakaliwood, also known as Ramon Film Productions, is a film studio based in Wakaliga, a slum in Uganda's capital of Kampala. Its founder and director is Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana, a.k.a. Nabwana I.G.G., who has been called Uganda's Quentin Tarantino, after the gratuitous violence in his films. Wakaliwood is best known for its ultra-low budget action movies, such as Who Killed Captain Alex?, Bad Black, Tebaatusasula, and the upcoming crowdsourced film Tebaatusasula: Ebola.

<i>Queen of Katwe</i> 2016 film by Mira Nair

Queen of Katwe is a 2016 American biographical sports drama film directed by Mira Nair and written by William Wheeler. Starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, and Madina Nalwanga, the film depicts the life of Phiona Mutesi, a girl living in Katwe, a slum of Kampala, the capital of Uganda. She learns to play chess and becomes a Woman Candidate Master after her victories at World Chess Olympiads.

Proscovia Nalweyiso, is a senior Ugandan military officer in the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF). At the rank of lieutenant general, she is the highest ranking female officer, in the Ugandan military.

<i>Kyaddala</i> Ugandan television series

Kyaddala is a Ugandan drama television series by Reach a Hand Uganda. The first season was produced by Emmanuel Ikubese Films and Reach a Hand Uganda. Set in a present day high school life, Kyaddala a Luganda word for "It's Real", focuses on real life social issues that affect young people across Africa and their attempts to overcome those issues. The series features actors and actresses from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria. Kyaddala premiered on 27 September 2019 at Kingdom Kampala.

Naomi Karungi was a Ugandan helicopter pilot who, at the time of her death, served as the Squadron Commander of Augusta Bell Squadron in the UPDF Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabwana I.G.G.</span> Ugandan filmmaker and producer

Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana, popularly known as Nabwana I.G.G., is a Ugandan filmmaker and film producer. Nabwana, the founder of the film studio Wakaliwood, is best known for the gratuitous violence in his films. Nabwana started to gain fame after uploading a trailer for his film Who Killed Captain Alex? on YouTube in 2010 and later the actual film in 2015. The film gained a cult status and as of January 2023, sits at 8.2+ million views on YouTube.

<i>Memory</i> (2022 film) 2022 American film by Martin Campbell

Memory is a 2022 American action thriller film directed by Martin Campbell from a screenplay by Dario Scardapane. It is based on the novel De Zaak Alzheimer by Jef Geeraerts and is a remake of the novel's previous adaptation, the Belgian film The Alzheimer Case. The film stars Liam Neeson as a brooding hitman with early dementia who must go on the run after declining a contract on a young girl; Guy Pearce, Monica Bellucci, Harold Torres, Taj Atwal and Ray Fearon also star.

References

  1. ↑ Vashaw, Austin (1 August 2017). "Fantasia 2017: Wakaliwood's BAD BLACK, Most Unexpendable Ugandan Movie!". Cinapse. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  2. ↑ Adams, Jason (19 June 2019). "Awfully Good: Wakaliwood's Bad Black". JoBlo.com . Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  3. ↑ "Bad Black". Fantastic Fest. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  4. ↑ "Wakaliwood Supa Action Volume 1: Who Killed Captain Alex? + Bad Black Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  5. ↑ Kuipers, Richard (18 July 2017). "BiFan Film Review: 'Bad Black'". Variety . Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "'Bad Black': Seattle International Film Festival movie review". Escape Into Film. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  7. ↑ Mudede, Charles (25 May 2017). "SIFF Review: Bad Black Is a Wakaliwood Masterpiece". The Stranger. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.