Harvest: 3000 Years

Described by the filmmaker as an epic parable, this film depicts the plight of an Ethiopian peasant family living in feudal conditions under the rule of a tyrannical landowner. A teenage son and daughter rebel against the social restrictions placed upon them; a local madman conveys revolutionary fervor. The pace and visual style of Gerina's film reflect the daily rhythms of life and provide an almost anthropological rendering of everyday reality. The three millenia of the title derive from the phrase used by the Ethiopian ruling class to describe their long period of freedom. In Gerima's view, it is 3000 years of misery and exploitation.