Besides a short film designed to advertise war bonds, this strange, somewhat conservative, but ambiguous, treatment of colonial politics is the sum of Michael Audley's directorial output.
The film employs an attractive and talented cast, including Sidney Poitier, a very young Eartha Kitt, Marne Maitland, and a number of other less well-known performers. Particularly impressive are John McIntyre and Clifton Macklin. The script is a little overbearing at times, and the acting talent sometimes struggles with it. The film does a nice job of exposing the colonial politics of the unidentified African state in which the film occurs. Obam (Poitier) is a bright young man who is on the verge of becoming an important political leader. Torn between a desire to return his country to people and force out the oppressive, exploitive Britishj administration, and his country's need to follow through on the promise of the technological and social trends put in place by the British, Obam must find his way by transcending his own prejudices and becoming more than a leader.
The film is more intelligent than average, and features a surprising amount of expository dialog. However, the true motives of the film makers become shockingly obvious about half-way through the film. To this point, no particular path was clear to Poitier, and he seemed somewhat lost in the political complexities of his people's situation. At this point the film suddenly becomes a heavy-handed Christian propaganda piece. It is truly remarkable how the film segues from real-life concerns about exploitation, violence and usurpation of land to largely failed 20th century missionization attempts. It is also remarkable that the infrastructural improvements enacted by colonial administrations (schools, sewers, etc) are somehow connected to the spread of Christianity. A final amazement is the systematic denial of the history of colonialism and Christianity which permeates the film's characterization of Christianity as a religion of peace.
Although I frankly did not like where the film ended up, and though I can cite a number of technical and aesthetic problems as well, I think Mark of the Hawk is worth seeing. It is an intelligent and provocative film from a time (the 50s) when intelligence and provocativeness were sorely needed in mainstream film. Also noteworthy for Eartha's performance of one of her first hits.
Recommended for Kitt and Poitier fans. Mildly recommended for those interested in representations/discourses on colonialism and religion.
The film employs an attractive and talented cast, including Sidney Poitier, a very young Eartha Kitt, Marne Maitland, and a number of other less well-known performers. Particularly impressive are John McIntyre and Clifton Macklin. The script is a little overbearing at times, and the acting talent sometimes struggles with it. The film does a nice job of exposing the colonial politics of the unidentified African state in which the film occurs. Obam (Poitier) is a bright young man who is on the verge of becoming an important political leader. Torn between a desire to return his country to people and force out the oppressive, exploitive Britishj administration, and his country's need to follow through on the promise of the technological and social trends put in place by the British, Obam must find his way by transcending his own prejudices and becoming more than a leader.
The film is more intelligent than average, and features a surprising amount of expository dialog. However, the true motives of the film makers become shockingly obvious about half-way through the film. To this point, no particular path was clear to Poitier, and he seemed somewhat lost in the political complexities of his people's situation. At this point the film suddenly becomes a heavy-handed Christian propaganda piece. It is truly remarkable how the film segues from real-life concerns about exploitation, violence and usurpation of land to largely failed 20th century missionization attempts. It is also remarkable that the infrastructural improvements enacted by colonial administrations (schools, sewers, etc) are somehow connected to the spread of Christianity. A final amazement is the systematic denial of the history of colonialism and Christianity which permeates the film's characterization of Christianity as a religion of peace.
Although I frankly did not like where the film ended up, and though I can cite a number of technical and aesthetic problems as well, I think Mark of the Hawk is worth seeing. It is an intelligent and provocative film from a time (the 50s) when intelligence and provocativeness were sorely needed in mainstream film. Also noteworthy for Eartha's performance of one of her first hits.
Recommended for Kitt and Poitier fans. Mildly recommended for those interested in representations/discourses on colonialism and religion.