The Fisherman's Diary (2020) User Reviews

Deadly Music and screaming,

[sarisled-05918 · 5/10 · 1 April 2022]

Good plot! Made it genuine not like in hollywood its all so fake and Unbelievable. So Unreal!

This movie makes you feel something mostlt sadness and disgust cause of how a 12year old is treated , married off, anf raped every day just bcs she really wanted to go to school and learn how to read and write. The most sickening part is that this movie reflects a reality that actually is happening probably right now in this part of the world. The producer wasnt scared to be controversial and showed us that even religion has something to do with this lind of barbarism.

I cant gove it hoghee cause the damn music almost made me deaf. Painful to hear. That kind of screaming someone would call a rhyme or chime or even poetic. I had to literally tirb the sound off and fast forward. It was constantly some kind of aaaahhhhh puuuhhhhjh ihhhheeeeehouuuiuihhhhaaaaaaabooooloooo, and so on! Like Why !? Ruined a big part for me.

not to be rude...

[ops-52535 · 4/10 · 8 April 2021]

Isnt an easy task when reviewing ''a fishermans diary''. Its a terrible production with under the basic of common western filmaking, and the cast line must be very local, if not very provincial. Sound quality, the plotting and editing of the story , the slow burning drive, and extremely long playtime is barely worth a 1.

The unmasked primitivity , and the films message though i can recommend indeed, also the work of the actor playing the fishermans daughter does score very well. But the most protruding weapon of stealth of this film is the musical score, utterly spiritual and emotional chimes and rhyms of heartfelt song makes me give an 8 for that part.

The story is easy, a local girl in the most off road parts of northern cameroon( i cant find the fishermans fishing place though), wants to learn to read and write, but shes not allowed, due to religion, tradition and primitive ignorance. Analphabaticm is the tyrans most precious weapon, and a girl with education is considered as a deadly threat to the local community, and especially the girls father.see the film to find out why.

So if your looking for great filmaking its definately not here, but if your in for the sincerity of human life on the silver screen have a watch. Its a tiny recommend for a film of the third worlds southern poverty.

A hard-hitting story, an unembellished reality...

[samabc-31952 · 8/10 · 17 April 2021]

"If one man can destroy the world then why can't one girl change it" - Malala Yousafzai Have you ever wondered why women often are not allowed to get education or higher education? Because men are terrified of their smartness,,, they feel threatened and they fear that they may loose their masculinity with intelligent women around .. She was hardly 12. And all she wanted was to go to school and study. She was a Cameroonian. Cameroon where less than 80% of girls get to go to school and overall literacy rate amongst girls is less than 70% compare to 80-85% amongst boys (Ref: Borden Magazine) This is a hard-hitting story, an unembellished reality. It may feel unvarnished and protracted .. but it is thought provoking and does not fail to stand out and transcend... A great watch.

Why? Like why?

[mjahanzebq · 1/10 · 31 May 2021]

The thing that comes out of the back side of a bull.

A must watch

[nadinengu · 10/10 · 5 April 2021]

Let me go ahead & say this is my first ever IMDb review but it had to be done.

I've watched many African movies in my lifetime & this is the first time in a LONG long time I've been impressed by any movie. It had many valuable lessons and touched on topics like, sacrifice in love, girls education , betrayal , friendship, etc. The main character played by Faith Fidel brought me to tears.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about the movie, the soundtrack was great.

Riveting !

I wish everyone who worked on this project continued success.

Cameroon O'bosso! Cameroon 🇨🇲 oye.

Needless technical details

[ozguryilmaz955 · 4/10 · 23 February 2024]

For a while, I couldn't understand what the movie was about. The struggles of labor processes in Africa are well-known facts, but the film is a bit more than that. I couldn't quite tell if it's a love story or about the hardships of growing up in a poor region. It's a multi-layered narrative, which makes it challenging to watch from that perspective.

Also, there are too many technical details in the film. Too much music and unnecessary sequences. It feels like they've unnecessarily prolonged the film's length. It made it difficult to connect to the main story. However, I can say that when the main plot starts, it begins to get impressive.

Very heartbreaking story

[skayatas · 8/10 · 9 April 2021]

This was really very emotional movie. I literally cried at some point. The fisherman's daughter, seriously great acting. Her character, her innocence ... helpless girl with genuinely good heart has drawn me so much so that i wanted to be there with some sort of power to save her or perhaps be her father doing the right thing for her while the storyline went into the full drama of corrupt minds including father be the part of commiting most evil act against her. Somehow the ending was a fairy tail instead of the most likely outcome based on how the events was unfolding, hence an 8 star rather than 10. This was a sweet character really made my heart ache..

Wonderfully heartbreaking

[mjSoFla · 10/10 · 15 April 2021]

It deserves the Oscar and your time. A young girl who only wants to be educated where girls are not survives with the support of a teacher.

This situation occurs more often then we want to believe and is truly realistic.

Where did they find this reviewer?!

[cocobean-30157 · 8/10 · 13 April 2021]

Boy, I hope this imdb reviewer has a day job. "Great filmaking" is much more than slick Hollywood effects or great use of light and shadow blah blah. In many cases, a film's innocent and unsophisticated presentation can be the very thing that makes it good, though this film has alot more going for it than just that. Maybe the reviewer would have preferred Denzel as the father, but thought it was quite good as is.

Must watch!

[mbertrand-32535 · 10/10 · 11 April 2021]

Great and inspiring tale on the importance of education for young girls!

THE CRUDE REALITY

[DogePelis2015 · 9/10 · 18 April 2021]

It is the first film completely made in Africa that I see and I really liked it; the plot is very good and the acting is excellent. TOTALLY RECOMMENDED!

Beautiful Strong Movie.

[onofre-97336 · 10/10 · 19 April 2021]

Very original to culture customs where change is fifficult, although persistance accomplishes it.

One of the best Cameroonian movie, if not the best

[waguelucrece · 10/10 · 13 May 2021]

I loved everything about this movie: the script, the actors play, the story, the emotions behind the scenes. It's a must see. I love the fact that it points out some problems that are unfortunately still common in some of our villages. The script being completely in pidgin and local language makes the movie even more relatable. It's a 10 out of 10 for me.

This movie is an absolute MUST SEE!!!

[lwalton-25957 · 10/10 · 30 April 2021]

I cannot say enough about this movie. It moved me. I was crying. I was mad!! When it was over I was so proud...Sometimes the best stories are the true stories, that show the strength, and stamina of the human spirit. Sometimes the best movies are the movies that show us people who choose to be the victors, not the victims!! The acting in this movie was superb. The young lady who played the main character broke my heart!

I am a public school teacher. So many of my students do not want to come to school...I thought of them as I watched this movie. I wondered if they saw the struggle, would they feel different?

Is it human nature to take for granted what we have? This movie speaks to that theme and so much more!

Great film, great exposure.

[noransunjwi · 9/10 · 15 May 2021]

As a Cameroonian and a lover of film I appreciate this very much. The message was clear and it brought light it a sad problem. It showed us the importance of education and that young girls are worth more than any amount of money.

Beautiful, sad and necessary...

[RosanaBotafogo · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

Inspired by Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, a young woman defies her father's and village's expectations and dedicates herself to her education. Ekah is determined to attend school in a fishing village where a girl's education is considered taboo. Her willingness to break this old adage involves her with her father, Solomon's past.

This film is so problematic and emblematic that it took me a long time to comment on it, the film that hurts in the depths of my soul mainly because it is a great reality in overdeveloped countries and mainly in the interior, even here in Brazil... Sale of girls into sexual slavery, total lack of appreciation for women, almost a by-product, banning children's parents from going to school, everything is so wrong... And Malala's incredible participation, even if only a poster, more than that, she represents the hope, courage and pain of many women...

Unrelenting

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 19 July 2021]

I have to admit, when one particular scene happened I just thought "no, this cannot happen, this is not good". And while that is true and in a perfect world would be something that I wouldn't even have to say ... the sad reality (as depicted in this movie without going into cliches much) is different.

This does not hold back punches ... literally. The girl (main character) is the one we are rooting for throughout. But the circumstances are stacked up against her. It is not just what people believe, which to a degree you may accept ... it is what they do to her ... which for most would be breaking any inkling of a will/drive to follow her "dream" (which is something most of us take for granted of course - going to school).

This is anything but an easy watch ... and you may not forgive the movie for going places ... I totally understand ... that does not make it less powerful and less truthful ... no matter how much it hurts (watching)

this was very sweet

[juanmuscle · 10/10 · 26 April 2021]

And very powerful, the end was worth it. Yes it did feel a lil' long at times , the only fault I found were why are we following these characters right now , but overall the writing and composition of plot did flow very well, the flashbacks fashioned strong characters which gives wide berth to the simplistic "this good this bad" type of puerile writing, it had enough depth to it that added a compelling atmosphere that flowed well all the way through to the confluence of the crisis which occasion nice universal themes! I definitely recommend it; and my favorite part were the transitions , they were so lovely to see! Yes it the environs are impoverished but underneath the rubble and debris it is evident to see there is a rich backstory here that lends to august environs steeped in rich history! Very nice, very good job, everyone involved in this should be very very proud!

I recommend this!

[janisjs7-183-844120 · 10/10 · 8 January 2022]

An excellent movie about the rights of girls and women to education and not only to boys and men. It's also about gender discrimination, abuse and child marriages. This movie makes those of us in Western and other democratic countries thankful for so many opportunities for an education. Thank you to the director and actors who were superb.

A Masterpiece

[WayNancy · 10/10 · 31 January 2022]

This heartbreaking movie is sadly still a reality in many parts of Africa. The heart-rending issue of girl child marriage is sadly a reality in a lot of countries in the world. This movie deserves more awards. The main character Ekah did such a great job. Educate the girl child and brighten the future of a nation.

Subtly ambiguous.

[botavuan · 10/10 · 9 February 2022]

I loved this film. It's "up there" with Mahamet Salah's 'Haroun' and 'Daratt'. The acting is splendid. But reviewers seem to have missed the ambiguity in the film: the female primary-schoolteacher tries in the crudest and most paternalistic way to impart useless White Men's 'education' to kids who are -of course - totally bemused. If this is what African education systems are like (based on medieval European monasteries), they need very seriously to be democratised and Africanised.

My sympathy lay with Solomon (the gorgeous Kang Quintus) rather than his aspirational daughter. He was beset by circumstances : the death of his wife, the bullying of his elder brother, and debts to a very nasty loan-shark - plus the pressure of the cane-carrying schoolteacher and her principal.

What this film showed to me was the inappropriateness and oppressiveness of western education (which, let's face it, is a patristic , secular religion) in the African context. Being able to do mathematical tricks in a foreign language is no better than being a dolphin in a dolphinarium.

(It is worth pointing out that there are over 100 languages spoken in Cameroun, plus two European languages (at odds with each other because the British and French parts of Cameroun came together uneasily at independence), plus Kamtok, a hybrid language which is used a bit like Lingala in the two Congos.)

This film deals very well with a very complex post-colonial situation.

10/10 - Touching story mixed with Fine Cinematic Expression

[freeboyscomedy · 10/10 · 25 January 2024]

This is a great story that's well directed and nicely portrayed on screen if you're in for real life experience in then you should watch this. Cameroon is gradually joining the elites in filmmaking, big kudos to the cast and crew most especially Kang Quintus (Solo & also Producer) , Faith Fidel, Enable Johnscott and Damo Damaris not forgetting Nollywood legend Ramsey Nouah "Is it that I'm speaking to fast or that you're listening too slow", I really loved it touching story that made tears flow from my strong eyes I mean it gave me goosebumps so I recommend you go watch it and come thank me for my recommendation.

Move Is Not For the Unfeeling , Self Centered Type

[rashellreid · 10/10 · 18 July 2021]

Absolutely Amazing Movies.

The customs demonstrated in the movie is wildly practice and it's shamefully. If your sympathize only extend to your experiences than don't watch. If you are looking for mindless, Hollywood price entertainment this isn't it.

This movie is for people who find certain traditional practices to be outdated and barbaric.

Enjoy.