Resonance Spiral

In September 2022, the Mediateca Onshore in Malafo, Guinea-Bissau, was inaugurated, which marked half a century of Guinean film production. RESONANCE SPIRAL documents the construction of this community cinema space – although much more is created along the way. Part of a project spanning decades initiated by filmmakers such as Filipa César, Sana na N’Hada and Marinho de Pina, the building is a place to preserve the history of militant history in Guinea-Bissau and a portal to make audiovisual archives of the country’s revolutionary movement accessible. The film accompanies workshops in the multifunctional structure, while women from an agricultural workers’ association listen to recordings of Amílcar Cabral from around 1970 making the case for the liberation of women. The filmmakers shine a light on the inherent tensions within their project and question the norms of the documentary. Whether in conversations with mangroves or absorbed in moving images, RESONANCE SPIRAL is a fascinating experiment in creating community through cinema.