Quirky 'Life is Fare' Keeps Eritrean Culture Alive

Life is Fare film poster.

"This is a San Francisco film about Eritrea. It’s colorful and visually whimsical in a way that can only be described as if the Wizard of Oz went to Africa."- Sephora Woldu

That's accurate.

Life is Fare is a humorous story within story that plays like a documentary but is a cleverly disguised narrative. Writer/director Sephora Woldu is Sephora, an Eritrean American girl recanting to her mother (Almaz Negash, her real-life mother) an idea for an eccentric, quite absurd feature. Of course, the traditional parent is not sold on the idea. Beneath the incredible lacings of infectious laughs and moments of joy, there is an underlying quest for uncovering clandestine history in the Northern African country of Eritrea, its present political climate, and the historical on/off relationship with its neighboring sister, Ethiopia.

Haile, the cab driver with unresolved feelings about Eritrea.

The setup is a miniature lesson conducted through quirky drawings, animated hands, and an articulate female narrator. Then the skeptical mother/artist daughter argument fades into the main character-- a young cab driver named Haile. The narrator's voice (kind, funny, and serious) also turns male.

In the meantime, roller blade enthusiast, Sephora is skating around town having conversation with a friend who keeps an even pace. The skates add a layered depth to Sephora's free spirited nature, a fun, witty punchline that reworks the phrase "don't run, walk" with "don't walk, skate." Much later, her friends meet up for drinks at a bar. These second generation girls are not talking fashion. They are divisive about Eritrea's current politics with valid reasons for and against.

Esther Kibtreab, Natra Zehriyun, Sephora Woldu make up the girls. The middle is neutral. Sephora opposes and Esther's character is for.

They also discussed blackness in America and its separation anxiety. Black Americans and African descendants contain differing mindsets due to opposing experiences. Whereas Sephora and her friends have parents that immigrated to America whilst still holding onto their cultural values (language, food, music, etc) and instilling that into their children, most black Americans, having tragically undergone generations upon generations of consequential damage, lost their heirlooms long ago thanks to colonialism. The fascinating outlook counterargues the split between Northern African and Western African (often seen in history and art museums), this notion that Northern Africa has purely Arab peoples and that Western Africa has true black peoples. 

Haile and his dentist form a therapeutic connection.

Haile's world is rocked upside down by his visions of dancing colorful ladies. To his ordinary mundane routine, they bring him tea, cryptic wisdom, and songs with Cheshire smiles. He, however, detests their unwanted influence and finds solace in his dentist. They get to the root-- no pun intended-- of his situation. He had lost a favorite uncle (whom he surprisingly had met only once as a child). As an adult, Haile sees his uncle again at the same bar Sephora and her friends are clashing against contemporary Eritrean politics. The man is not his uncle. It is a singer whose mannerisms remind Haile of someone he lost and loved-- a metaphor about an immigrant's life in a new country, defining his purpose whilst reflecting on his upbringing.

Life is Fare writer, director, actress, Sephora Woldu.

To be a jack of all trades in cinematic verse is quite an achievement, especially if one has the chops to be front and center as well as have behind-the-scenes passion. Sephora Woldu is like Issa Rae sans the awkwardness. Woldu embodies her multidisciplinary talents everywhere. While she has written, directed, and starred in Life is Fare and Impresa! (a silent film about Eritrean owned businesses in San Francisco), she also majors in architecture at the prestigious California College of the Arts (which explains the beautiful shots of building tops) and heads Abyssurdian, a production company releasing indie films and public art projects. Here is a great interview from her award winning presence at the San Francisco Black Film Festival.

Life is Fare delivers magical charm, humor, and inclusive history to the fantasy genre. Woldu has made sure to add Eritrea's musical achievements, pieces of the country's interest in folk instruments. A nod to the qudo dance is present (defined as dancers forming a circle and dancing continuously). The costumes, the cinematography, the coloring, the narrator, Woldu and her mother are reasons enough to watch. There are moments like one character played by Natra Zehriyan who stands at a bus stop and three observing passengers have stereotypical perceptions of her. That experience alone is a universal exchange, especially for people of color, for black people. Sephora speaks in English and her mother often responds back in Tigrinya (Impresa! contains English and Tigrinya subtitles). A trans black woman enters Haile's cab and has the most sweetest personality. Their short encounter has affected him in a profound way, so much so that she is in his imagination in a lovely follow up song/dance scene.

Moreover, as Life is Fare continues its festival rounds, hopefully it comes to DVD release someday. It is a highly recommendable treat.