"Xime" (1994) is a gripping tale of transformation and defiance set in 1963 Guinea-Bissau, during the height of Portuguese colonial rule and the dawn of the independence struggle. Directed by debut filmmaker Sana Na N'Hada, and only the third film ever made in Guinea-Bissau, the story unfolds in a peaceful village where Bedan (José Tamba) lives under the guidance of non-violent elders and a Catholic priest. But when his older brother Raul (Justino Neto), a revolutionary, returns to stir unrest, the village's tranquility is shattered. As tensions rise and the authorities close in on Raul, Bedan's world is upended, forcing him to confront his own beliefs about violence and resistance. Xime captivates with bold storytelling, stunning cinematography, and a unique cultural perspective on the human cost of colonialism and the shift from subjugation to the fight for independence.
