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Bantú Mama + Mother (15)

Chronic Youth 2022

,Barbican Cinema 2
Emma hugs the two children in her care, Bantú Mama

Questions and celebrations of motherhood, home, and chosen family are brought to the forefront in Dominican feature film Bantú Mama and Brazilian documentary short Mother.

Ivan Herrera's visually arresting Bantú Mama is set predominantly in the Afro-Dominican barrios of Santo Domingo and follows Emma, as she seeks shelter with three young children in an unexpected household, without parental figures. Confronted with motherhood, she finds herself connected to the children through diasporic threads woven centuries prior. Of French-Cameroonian descent herself, music, dance and hair serve as languages to transcend the divisions of nationality in this elegant feature.

Screening before Bantú Mama, Mother is a short Brazilian documentary about the ballroom scene, at a time when it’s increasingly dangerous to be visibly queer. We watch as the queer community celebrate themselves, and forge bonds with their house mother.

Both films celebrate the power of diaspora and chosen family.

Tagged with: Cinema Chronic Youth 2022

Dominican Republic 2021, Dir. Ivan Herrera, 77 min
UK/Brazil 2020, Dir. Jas Pitt & Kate Stonehill, 20 min

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Barbican Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.