BFI London Film Festival: National Diploma

An accomplished fly on the wall documentary, Dieudo Hamadi’s film follows a group of Congolese high school students as they prepare for their National Diploma exam (the equivalent of A-levels), in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Returning to his place of birth to chronicle the plight of these students, Hamadi also exposes corruption in the education system: teachers demand to be paid ‘bonuses’ from their students as they prepare for their final year exams. Those who have not paid are excluded from classes. Realising their parents cannot help, a group of students finds a communal space where they can gather together to revise. They also consult the church and local witchdoctors, encouraging each other to pray in the hope that this will help them pass their exams. With an eye for drawing out the smallest of details to add colour to his compassionate portrait of these people’s lives, Hamadi has created a fascinating documentary and is very much a director to watch. [Keith Shiri]

Tickets for London Film Festival screenings can be purchased through the BFI and BFI Box Office 020 7928 3232 (9.30am-8.30pm daily) or the London Film Festival website: bfi.org.uk/lff