Pieces d'identites

Dedicated to the "African Diaspora," Mweze Ngangura's film traces the journey of a venerated Congolese king, Mani Kongo, on a mission to find his long-unheard-from daughter living in Belgium. Sent there years before to become a doctor, his beloved Mwana has lately turned to dancing in a strip club after being paroled for drug-running. Skittishly befriending a smitten mulatto cab driver who also happens to have linked up with her father, Mwana almost crosses paths with dad several times before a touching reunion finally occurs. The theme of lost or stolen identity figures heavily in this land of dispossessed Africans now assimilated into a European culture (here portrayed as longing for the good ol' days of colonialism. Although its intentions are undoubtedly noble, the film stretches credulity with the almost comedic near-misses between Mwana and Mani, and generally trades white stereotypes for the usual black ones. Optional, but marginally worthwhile. (T. Rich)