Distributor: Julia Teitel 101 Morse St. Watertown, MA 02472 shannon@der.org
Bitter
Roots is set in North East Namibia in southern Africa's Kalahari
desert, traditional home of the Bushmen. It updates the ethnographic
film record begun in the 1950s by John Marshall, whose films documented
50 years of change, and who together with Claire Ritchie, established a
grass-roots development foundation which Adrian Strong (the filmmaker)
joined in the late 1980s. Shot in 2007, Bitter Roots documents the
return of Strong and Ritchie to Namibia where they observe the erosion
of a community-led development process following the imposition of a new
agenda by the World Wildlife Fund, which prioritizes wildlife
conservation and tourism over subsistence farming. Communities voice
their dissatisfaction with the new Conservancy, which has done little to
help people farm and improve their lives.
Adrian Strong
Adrian Strong is
currently undertaking doctoral research at Griffith University in the
field of ethnographic film, with particular reference to the
representation of indigenous people. Adrian grew up in the UK, where he
studied Science and Philosophy before moving to Africa in 1984. Adrian's
had many work incarnations ranging from farming to development work to
business. It was in the late 1980s that Adrian lived and worked in the
Kalahari with the Ju/’hoansi and also developed an interest in
film-making. In 1997 Adrian moved from Namibia to California for
additional post-graduate studies, gaining a Masters in Mythological
Studies and Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. He has
been living in Australia since 2000, where he has also worn many hats,
but is at his happiest teaching, researching and film-making.
FILMOGRAPHY (Documentaries)
Fantome Island (2011) - Producer Bitter Roots: the ends of a Kalahari myth (2010) - Director Wollemi: A Land Inscribed With Story (2011) - Director Djulirri: An Aboriginal Library of Encounter & Experience (2011) - Director Made in Malarrak (2010) - Director Esther Remembers (2009) – Director Buffalo Hunt (2009) - Director Lamajugu: Gateway to Jinsha River Rock Art (2009) – Director Journey to the Centre of the Art (2008) - Producer Accented Body (2007) - Director