Uncommon Ground

Subtitled "A new look at South Africa through the eyes of five L.A. youth," Uncommon Ground is a film on top of a film. Curious about how a group of multi-racial American teens would respond to witnessing the slow dismantling of apartheid in South Africa, filmmaker Aime Williams took them to a country where young people lead the struggles for justice. The youths make brief videos on their South African experience, a part of which includes their confusion over receiving automatic privileges by virtue of their American-ness. How does South Africa change these five young people? Thoughtful Kamau, half Chinese and half black, must come to terms with returning to a "homeland" where he's never been. Korean-American Serena declares that her South African journey has changed her conception of beauty. Uncommon Ground is most interesting when it reflects upon itself; unfortunately, it plows through its own rich terrain too quickly. You want more from this film, more about how Williams chose the five youth, more about their backgrounds and fears, and more about how South Africa transformed them. Still, a wonderful experiment in cross-cultural adolescence and social justice. Recommended, with reservations. Aud: H, C, P. (A. Laker)