The world completely abandoned this small nation despite facts and legalities that proved Eritrea was an independent state that was continually occupied by other forces. Eritrea's fervent pursuit of self-reliance is rooted in its 30-year struggle for independence from Ethiopia, first against U.S.-backed Emperor Haile Selassie and then Soviet-backed dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam.

The unthinkable happened and there are those who don't understand or can't comprehend the Eritrean psyche and don't want to accept the fact that Eritreans achieved against all odds what the world super powers did not want to happen. They now continue to defame the people of Eritrea, because Eritreans never kneel down to any one unless it is to pray or to protect themselves, as has been expressed recently. This ignorant Italian film maker known as Luigi Falorni made this comment in an interview,

"The Eritrean struggle for freedom is such a heroic fundement of the Eritrean history" OK Understood and accepted, but he then goes on to say, "my sense is only triumphalist film about this period could be allowed"

Everyone is allowed to express their artistic ability but to make it a reality you must consult with those who know and understand the situation on the ground first hand. The movie will go down in history as one that has no factual basis. It will tarnish the image of the film maker and he will never be able to tell the Eritrean story as it was. This film is about making money at any expense and done to appease a popular singer in Germany of Eritrean decent who has been controversial about her story with a book and now with this film.

Eritrea's struggle is yes indeed an incredible journey in achieving independence for human rights. Why this film maker did this without first researching the situation during the struggle era to tell a story with out facts clearly indicates that this was done at the expense of the history of the Eritrean struggle which was an authentic and heroic achievement that only true Eritreans that helped get the independence of their nation in Eritrea can talk or write or make a film about. It would have been a lot easier for the film maker to go to Eritrea and use the background to shoot and better yet to get the real story as it was.

The fact that the movie was shot in Kenya using Ethiopian refugees to tell Eritrea's history in itself shows the incompetency of the film maker. Notice the Amharic conversation in the movie and it goes purley against what this racist Italian film maker is trying to do. it defeats the purpose of the whole story. The director is an opportunist just like this Senait Character. I commend Almaz Yohannes and the rest of Eritreans for standing up for the truth. If the film maker truly cares about the story and want to prove his point how come he does not talk to those who are telling their story such as Almaz and the thousands and thousands of Eritrean youth who were never Child soldiers.

I hope those who will press charges will do so for the sake of the truth. See below a link from a show known as "The Fabulous Picture Show" aired on Al Jazeera on December the 3rd, 2007. Go to the 6:49 Mark of the clip after the story about a Lebanese film and you can see the story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJl3GFvw6MU&feature=related

Just in case you prefer to type in the google engine search or on youtube's search type in the following,

The Fabulous Picture Show - Caramel - 03 Dec 07 - Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJl3GFvw6MU&feature=related

Awet N' Hafash and Zelalemawi zikri nswatna.

Don't let those who don't know the story of Eritrea tell it because they will butcher it.

Mike Seium

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