Review: Nubian Spirit
A beautifully photographed documentary revealing the contribution of Ancient Sudan (Nubia) to the culture, history and spiritual mythology of the people from the Nile Valley.
An epic love story, dynastic feuds, foreign invasion, and mythology. Sounds like the perfect ingredients for a Hollywood blockbuster, but Nubian Spirit tells the real and often untold story of Ancient Africa and the people that inhabited it. Filmed, produced and directed by Louis Buckley, this independent filmmaker manages to bolt together an award-winning documentary that brings to light the rich culture and history of the people from the Nile Valley.
Navigating through a map of Ancient Africa, Nubian Spirit reveals the journey of people across the continent, culminating in the creation of a diverse but powerful civilization. Meanwhile, bold, panoramic cinematography captures a time when men and woman ruled side by side. Highlighting many of captivating stories, Nubian Spirit delves into legends such as Osiris, the God of the after-life and his wife Isis, goddess of magic and life, revealing a history as fertile and long as the river in its title.
Buckley employs the help of several experts – all obviously passionate about the subject – to piece together the story of a golden era that gave birth to science, astrology, architecture, and much more. But it’s not all about mythological figures straight out of a dusty history book. Nubian Spirit explores the connections between this forgotten time and the way we live today. Let’s face it: history can make us all glaze over at the best of times but this legacy is told with such vigour that it leaves you with a thirst to know more. Of course it also helps that this snapshot of history comes in a digestible portion of just 1hr 15mins. Use Nubian Spirit to brush up on the history and significance of Ancient Africa…beyond pyramids and pharaohs.
