This new Netflix anthology series is filling the Black Mirror void for me
I got lost for a night in African folktales
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The newNetflixseriesAfrican Folktales Reimaginedgives audiences a gorgeous look into a collection of stories set in mystic, fantasy lands inspired by African folk stories. Released at the end of March, the show is made up of six episodes, each of which is a short film created by a different director and producer across Africa.
Anthology series have become increasingly popular in recent years, with the likes ofThe White LotusandFargoranking among thebest HBO Max shows. Arguably, though, the most famous is Charlie Brooker’s dark British sci-fiBlack Mirror– and for good reason.
Often called this generation’s version of the 1950’s sci-fi horror seriesTheTwilight Zone,Brooker’s Emmy award-winning show (and one of thebest Netflix showsaround) explored the potential consequences of unchecked technological growth. While every episode is very different from the last, African Folktales has a similar undertone toBlack Mirrorrunning through it, using technology to comment on social and environmental issues.
Take a look at the trailer below:
As the trailer shows,African Folktaleshas a stylish cinematic look to it – it’s also available to stream in crisp4K. And I have to say, on theLG G3 OLED TV(which is, admittedly, about to make a high appearance in our list of thebest TVsin the world today), it looks beautiful. But what stood out to me most was the incredibly detailed wardrobe that connects each episode (cowry shells feature throughout), and the original stories.
The creative minds behind the show are six up-and-coming filmmakers from Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. The short films were funded by a production grant as part of a UNESCO competition.
Next-generation stories
Aside from the show’s epic cinematography, wardrobe and original stories, the acting and script can be hit and miss in parts. But what more than makes up for this is the thought-provoking nature of the themes it explores.
An episode that stands out the most is ‘Zabin Halima’directed by Nollywood director Korede Azeez, which tells the story of a young girl who lives in a remote village that falls in love with an artificial intelligence (AI) program. In an attempt to escape an arranged marriage, she begins to spend more time in the virtual world but is ultimately forced to choose between the two realities. The story is a fresh spin on the narrative of humans falling in with robots that we’ve seen in movies such as Spike Jonze’sHerand Alex Garland’sEx Machina.
While a large majority of the episodes in the series have a fantasy, drama feel to them, there are a couple of exceptions. Notably, episode one ‘Katera of the Punishment Island’,which was directed and produced by Loukman Ali in Uganda, and tells the story of a grieving mother out for revenge.
WhileBlack Mirrorfans wait for season six to be released, which has been reportedlyconfirmed to be in production,African Folktales Reimaginedis a captivating watch if you’re after anew Netflix show. Its ability to unpack social and environmental issues – one episode tackles domestic violence, while another centers on drought – anthology series format and futuristic settings make it a visually thrilling watch.
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Amelia became the Senior Editor for Home Entertainment at TechRadar in the UK in April 2023. With a background of more than eight years in tech and finance publishing, she’s now leading our coverage to bring you a fresh perspective on everything to do with TV and audio. When she’s not tinkering with the latest gadgets and gizmos in the ever-evolving world of home entertainment, you’ll find her watching movies, taking pictures and travelling.
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