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Robin Dimet’s moving film depicts literary translation as a solitary and precarious journey. Sami, a sixty-something man living in a sparsely furnished house in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has dedicated almost twenty years to translating Greek mythology into Amharic. Despite his reserved demeanor, Sami’s eyes shine with passion when discussing his monumental project, which has become an all-consuming obsession. Unfortunately, his obsession has taken over his life, causing him to neglect his relationships, family, and personal well-being.
The movie often shows him from afar, as he travels through a fractured, changing cityscape filled with towering new buildings. This man is always out of sync with the current times due to his passionate mindset. Despite his shyness, Sami is welcomed by a supportive group of artists and intellectuals who offer both emotional and financial assistance for the completion of his book. However, at the book launch, Sami surprisingly struggles to find words and refuses to give a speech about his work. Perhaps, his mixed feelings about his accomplishment stem from a feeling of wasted youth spent during the rule of Mengistu Haile Mariam’s regime.
Sami speaks kindly of legendary deities, but his struggles with writing have led to outbursts of destructive anger and strained relationships with his son. However, rather than delving into these conflicts, the film focuses on Sami’s personal journey and does not explore how it reflects the challenges of intellectuals in Ethiopia. Including a deeper examination of the sociopolitical climate could have enhanced this study of the sacrifices artists make for their craft.
Source: theguardian.com
