Africa United

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

88%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 17

70%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,017

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Movie Info

A handful of children are determined to make their dreams a reality against long odds in this family-friendly adventure. Dudu (Eriya Ndayambaje) is a young boy with energy and imagination to spare who is best friends with Fabrice (Roger Nsengiyumva), who is a few years older and has an impressive talent for soccer. Dudu and Fabrice live in a village in Rwanda, and when the schedule for 2010 World Cup soccer tournament is announced, Dudu suggests he and Fabrice should attend the big event in person. While neither realizes just how far they have to go and Fabrice knows his mother would never approve of such a thing, they decide to give it a try in hopes of seeing some of the games in person and giving Fabrice an opportunity to show off his footwork to some of his heroes. Dudu and Fabrice set out to cover the 3,000 miles on foot, and they pick up a few fellow travelers on the way, including a boy running away from his life as a child soldier (Yves Dusenge) and a young girl who had been forced into prostitution (Sherrie Silver). The journey becomes all the more difficult the further they go, and en route Dudu's friends learn he has a secret with life changing consequences. Africa United received its North American premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Cast

Eriya Ndayambaje
as Dudu
Sanyu Janita Kintu
Roger Nsengiyumva
as Fabrice
Sanyu Joanita Kintu
as Beatrice
Sherrie Silver
as Celeste
Yves Dusenge
as Foreman George
Roger Nsengiyuma
Eriya Ndoyambaje
Sangu Joanita Kintu
Presley Chweneyagae
Rapulana Seiphemo
Patrick Mofokeng
Leleti Khumalo
Tony Caprari
Richard Lukunku
Moky Mukura
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Critic Reviews for Africa United

All Critics (17) | Top Critics (3)

  • A bouncy crossbreed of Slumdog Millionaire, Enid Blyton and a Unicef commercial; a film that so dearly wants to be adored and adopted that it seems positively churlish to shoo it away.

    Oct 21, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Xan Brooks

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • It may be formulaic and linear, it may flinch by too readily blending into fable, but it doesn't hide from the realities. It just refuses to bow to them.

    Oct 21, 2010 | Rating: 3/5

    Tom Seymour

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic

  • The makers do their best to paper over an undemanding script with bouncy music, quick cuts and musical montages, and you have to admire the young actors' spirited acting and the film's willingness to place HIV in the foreground.

    Oct 20, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Dave Calhoun

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Road movie, adventure, comedy drama, a will-they-make-it ... no matter what label you give it, Africa United is a unique piece of filmmaking, full of the joys and wounds of Africa

    Mar 17, 2012 | Full Review…

    Andrew L. Urban

    Urban Cinefile

  • Like its infectious music and indelible African landscape, the sheer enthusiasm of this upbeat film championing friendship and dreams instantly rubs off

    Mar 17, 2012 | Full Review…

    Louise Keller

    Urban Cinefile

  • An earnest, treacly tale of youthful trio's long trek through Africa.

    Mar 5, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

    Don Groves

    sbs.com.au
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Audience Reviews for Africa United

  • Mar 24, 2012
    An absolutely outstandimg family film for the family!
    Scott G Super Reviewer
  • Mar 15, 2011
    Taking place during the World Cup madness period 2010, we will see the journey of three kids who are willing to travel miles away from home just to enter South Africa and kick some ball. Along the way, they meet few other kids their age and begin to call themselves as a team. The extra ordinary thing about this movie is the main characters, their innocence and passion is just refreshing! And the African backdrop also helps to build a strong atmosphere. Another thing that amaze me are the actors, this kids are good! A must watch for someone who want to see something different for a change. 7.8/10.
    Cancelled U Super Reviewer
  • Oct 24, 2010
    a charming tale set in africa against the backdrop of the lead up to the football world cup. 2 brothers one who's gifted at football, hes been offweed a chance to lead out at opening ceremony, and his friend who although very young, acting as his manager, they make there way to trials for event, but then after some events make there way down to south africa itself, to make start of opening cerenony to fullfill there dream. making friends along the way and getting into scrapes. whats interesting about this is. its a feelgood film all over but has a edge to it, and very relevent to todays climate in africa, taking in child kinappings, hints at prostetution. gang killings and thefts, safesex and the hiv\aids virus all against the feeling that fooyball is the beautyful game, and the saviour for man, before bloodshed started, its all rather bold, but comes off well, with all these subjects to weave in to story along with journey itself, its done greatly, a film about dreaming in a place where the oportunity is sometimes very hard to find, all involved are great, especially eruya ndayambaje as the friend/manager, he lights up scenres. and if anything be holds all threads together, but they are all good and all deserve mention, a well thought out film, that dispite subjects brought up, can be seen by younger viewers in my opinion. this might only exist or got finacing due to slumdog millionaire, but it certainly can stand on its own two feet
    scott g Super Reviewer
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