Devil's Chest Explained

Devil’s Chest
Director:Hassan Mageye
Producer:Hassan Mageye
Starring:
  • Hasifah Nande Nakitende
  • Samuel Rogers Masaaba
Studio:New Cinema Productions
Sanyuka Efrican Ent.
Production Companies:-->
Distributors:-->
Country:Uganda
Language:English, Swahili

Devil's Chest is a 2017 Ugandan war film about the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency in northern Uganda. It was written, produced and directed by Hassan Mageye and stars Hasifah Nande Nakitende and Samuel Rogers Masaaba in the lead roles. It premiered in Gulu in October 2017 and in Kampala in May 2019.[1] [2]

Summary

During the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda, a village woman is forced to be a wife of the rebel leader Joseph Kony, the man who killed her husband. She becomes a soldier and fights for her freedom.[3]

Reception

The film was well received in Uganda and across Africa for its story, acting and direction.[4] It received the most nominations (nine) at the 5th Uganda Film Festival Awards in 2017 and won four awards including Best Feature Film and Best Director.[5] [6] It was also nominated at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) awards for Best Movie East African and Best Overall Movie.[7] Some of the technical, story and action aspects of the film were however criticised. Collins Kakwezi of Amakula Film Festival called the film a botched project citing that the action scenes were lacking and that the rebel leader, Joseph Kony was portrayed as a kind man through actor Samuel Rogers Masaaba.[8]

Awards

Awards & Nominations
YearAwardCategoryReceived byResultRef
2017Uganda Film Festival AwardsBest Script (Screenplay)Hassan Mageye[9] [10]
Best Costume and Production DesignHassan Mageye
Best CinematographyHassan Mageye
Best SoundHassan Mageye
Best Editing and Post ProductionHassan Mageye
Best ActressHasifah Nande Nakitende
Best Actor in a Feature FilmSamuel Rogers Masaaba
Best DirectorHassan Mageye
Best Feature FilmHassan Mageye
2018Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Movie East Africa
Best Overall Movie
Amakula Film FestivalBest Feature Film

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Devil’s Chest: Kony movie premieres this May . The Edge . 4 October 2020 . 19 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201119153100/https://edge.ug/2019/05/01/devils-chest-kony-movie-premieres-this-may/ . dead .
  2. News: Devil’s Chest Movie To Premiere Over The Weekend . 4 October 2020 . How We . 19 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201119145632/https://mobile.howwebiz.ug/news/writer/23398/devils-chest-movie-to-premiere-this-weekend . dead .
  3. News: Labeja . Peter . New Kony Movie Premieres in Gulu . 4 October 2020 . Uganda Radio Network.
  4. News: Warlord's fighters become film stars as Ugandan cinema booms . 4 October 2020 . Stripes.
  5. News: Ssejjombwe . Isaac . The ‘Devil’s chest’ takes most of it at Uganda Film Festival . 4 October 2020 . Sqoop.
  6. News: Kaggwa . Andrew . Devil's Chest film the toast of Uganda Film Festival awards . 4 October 2020 . The Observer.
  7. News: Kabuye . Kalungi . Uganda gets record number of nominations in 'Africa's Oscars' . 4 October 2020 . New Vision.
  8. Web site: Devil’s chest; a botched action attempt . Amakula Film Festival . 4 October 2020 . 19 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201119150139/https://amakula.org/devils-chest-a-botched-action-attempt/ . dead .
  9. Web site: OFFICIAL NOMINEES LIST FOR THE UGANDA FILM FESTIVAL 2017 . Uganda Film Festival (UFF) . 4 October 2020 . 4 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170904012733/http://ugandafilmfestival.ug/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/OFFICIAL-LIST-OF-NOMINEES-UFF-2017.pdf . dead .
  10. Web site: Zahid . Fayzan . FULL LIST: 2017 Uganda Film Festival Award Winners . Chimpreports . 4 October 2020.