Once Upon a Time in Uganda (2023)

3 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Class Action

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

This energetic, jubilant documentary tells the story of filmmaker Isaac Nabwana, whose screen credit is "Nabwana I.G.G." (full name: Nabwana Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey). Nabwana lives in Uganda, in a self-described "slum" called Wakaliga. But he has nicknamed it "Wakaliwood." Inspired by the films of Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee, and the Trinity and Rambo films, Nabwana, his wife Harriet, and a slew of volunteers, make action films for a budget of — he claims — around $200. He and his crew can't afford anything, so everything must be made or invented. Heads explode, cars flip, characters get shot and spurt blood everywhere, and people are kicked in the face, martial-arts style. The movies are packaged on homemade DVDs and sold to the locals, who enjoy seeing themselves represented and empowered onscreen.

Things change when Nabwana posts a trailer for his feature Who Killed Captain Alex? (2015) on YouTube. Among its millions of viewers is Alan Hofmanis, an American who has worked in the film industry in various capacities. He has an epiphany and immediately travels to Uganda to track down the filmmaker and offer his services. At first, Hofmanis is made a White villain onscreen, but he settles into a role as producer, publicist, and whatever else is required. The doc follows as Nabwana's work becomes more well-known, as the two men's fast friendship becomes tested. Director Cathryne Czubek seems inspired by Nabwana's sheer vigor and happily designs her film to compliment it (something too few documentaries ever bother to do). Once Upon a Time in Uganda may indeed inspire new Nabwana fans, but more importantly, it makes an argument in favor of the power and importance of even the "lowest" of cinema.