Kangamba

Presents

A Film By Rogelio Paris

1983, Africa,

People's Republic of Angola,

Combat units

of the National Union for Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)

organized, trained, and supplied by the South African army

operate in the Moxico province and increase their attacks

against the Peoples Army for Angola's Liberation (FAPLA)

loyal to the national government.

Angola asks Cuba to increase military aid.

In response to the request, Cuban troops are deployed

in different regions across the vast African country,

including a village named Cangamba.

One of the most distant and difficult to reach spots

in Angola's eastern heartland.

Southern Angola, August 5 1983

How long can a man resist under constant bombing?

Without any water, sleepless,

the air infested with the stench from the corpses.

Sieged by thousands of enemies, waiting for a final offensive.

How long can a human being endure?

Kangamba

Luanda 5 months earlier

Mayito, Mayito.

Your friend, Lt. Colonel Lorenzo, needs you.

Fuck you, man.

I can't believe it,

flying South when I was almost in Cuba.

Lorenzo screwed me. And he says he's my friend.

We're only two Cubans on board.

A cameraman, known as Pepe el Loco.

And me, but I'm in no mood for wackies.

I've been fooling around with the landscape, the animals,

and the vegetation, but now I'm fully-equipped,

I have a hunch that something big is coming,

I've got a good photo camera and a 16mm one.

Come on, run! Get in line!

Cangama, a village built by the Portuguese.

Scarcely 8000 people, including those in the quimbos.

A FAPLA brigade and a small group of Cuban advisors.

Mainly reservists like me.

One, two, one, two, one, two, one, two;

I just met with the FAPLA,

Captain Lino and I agree on the whole issue.

Obviously, Savimbi thinks that in this forsaken spot,

he can count on the safety of the South African rear guard,

to establish his so called Black Republic.

You can see it in the way his troops are moving.

Excuse me, Lt. Colonel. Meanwhile, what happens?

Meanwhile, we'll dig holes, engineer.

That's why I sent for you. You'll have to help Rogelio.

You, with the camera, don't take one more picture,

unless I say so. Right!

You should be more careful with your kid.

I'm looking for Joao. -That's me.

I'm Captain Mario.

Glad to meet you, Captain.

I need to speak with you, primo.

I'm in trouble, primo. -You can tell me, Captain.

I need full discretion.

No problem, Captain.

I'm with...you know...

You know what.

What is it, comrade? -That!

Please, Joao.

Where are you sick?

Right here, damn it!

There it is. -I'm out.

You didn't get it? You can have it!

One.

This is yours.

Blank. -What's going on?

No, I'm out.

No, I don't carry any.

Four.

Lions, don't go near people just for nothing.

They need to be hungry.

There's Lino, stop!

What happened last night was an alert, Lino.

They're getting ready to move with their artillery.

Primo. they want to bury us here.

We, in the FAPLA know it.

Right. Good work, Captain.

This comes from the North!

They fucking started again!

Get over there! Quick!

Run over here, asshole! Hurry, damn it!

Calm down!

What's wrong?

I sent for you because I'm in trouble.

We ran out of gas. -Should I bring the tanker?

Calm down, everything's going to be fine.

Training the troop isn't that bad.

The worst part is the 40 degree heat!

On the other hand, at night, it gets freezing cold.

Artemiso and Sobrado are like father and son.

They're always working to make us feel better.

First, it was a garden. Now, it's an oven to bake bread.

We have to rush it, Rogelio.

We need shelter for the people, and the engines.

I got a radio from Luena, they can't reach us by land.

We depend on the aviation.

We can't push them any harder.

They're working too hard.

We've got no choice.

To what do we owe the Chief's presence?

I was remembering

the battle where you got that shitty wound.

It was a fucking ugly sight. But the devil looks after his own.

That's why you're alive.

You tell me, brother,

why did you send for me

just when I was leaving for Cuba?

I got orders, Mayito. -Fuck me, man!

I've known you for ages and we've shared a few missions.

You wanna hear the truth?

Shit, there I was thinking you were my friend.

I need you, Mayito. Things are getting rough.

My men don't know anything like this.

You know, we can do this if we dig deep enough.

We gotta help Rogelio. He can't do it on his own.

Mayito, they're scheming something big.

Get to the point, Lorenzo.

We'll have to bury ourselves like moles.

Before they do it for us!

Captain, I don't like to mind anybody's business.

I guess you don't know because nobody mentioned it.

Lorenzo, too, should've left for Cuba,

yet, here's still here.

Move quietly. We'll snatch the quimbo from the FAPLA.

Fire!

Turn yourselves in!

We won't! This is our quimbo and we're going to keep it.

Our people want peace to grow their crops and live.

If you join us we'll give you a lot of money.

I owe you one, doc.

Are you feeling better?

Man, it was a rocket that you put in that shot.

You gotta be careful with women, Captain.

Speaking of women, what's her name?

Long live, Angola! -Long live!

Maria.

Long live Agostinho Neto! -Long live!

Long live President Dos Santos! -Long live!

Tell me about your defences, Primo.

The FAPLA is in charge of the northern defense ring.

Our firing lines, mortars, everything,

including heavy machines guns, are fortified.

But I worry about the people.

They don't see why they need to dig shelters

to protect themselves from the artillery fire.

They can't see why a shelter's better than hiding in the jungle.

How about the Soba, primo?

The Soba's working with us. -That's good!

Sobrado, get more logs inside this shit, it's not hot enough.

Holy shit, that's something! We're on television again!

People only come here when they're hungry.

Francisco and the chief have been my pals

for a long time and they never stop by.

Maybe they figure I went back to my hometown.

Where's that, Artemiso? -In Artemisa, can't you tell?

Let's try to get this batch out.

Keep working. Come on, guys, hurry!

Put on your shirts and wear them right,

we can't look like a wreck, before the camera.

Come on, speed it up! Move!

Artemiso. How are you?

I have some vegetables for your school.

Thank you, Artemiso.

When it comes to flowers, I can tell you for sure

they might be like a treasure

but here in Cangamba, man, they grow better for you.

Movie maker!

Don't you want to take good shots? -Yes, of course!

Join us.

They've been harassing us with mortars for months

and in the last few days they're bringing them closer,

I promised Lorenzo to find them.

I'll bring Primo and Loco to train them.

Let's go!

Unita Territory

You can get it but you won't get out.

Savimba's Territory

I've seen this before.

I don't need another crappy wound.

What did you bring? -Supplies and mail.

Shit, at last.

Mortar! -Get away from the plane!

Run for the trenches, before they fucking kill us!

Fire!

Pepe! Hold it right there!

Fire!

Damn it!

Keep crying and you'll end up alone in this jungle.

Aren't you a soldier?

Then get back there, shit, beat it!

Battery 1, hold your fire!

Battery 4, cease fire!

Battery 3, cease fire!