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Once Upon a Time in Uganda
Directed by
Cathryne Czubek
2021
1h 34m
Documentary
7.1
95%
80%
6.4
Add to Watchlist
A brick maker in Uganda becomes an Internet sensation when he tries his hand at making action movies.
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Where to Watch Once Upon a Time in Uganda
Hoopla
Free
Pluto TV
Free
The Roku Channel
Free
+4 more
Cast of Once Upon a Time in Uganda
Nabwana IGG
Self
Alan Hofmanis
Self
Bisaso Dauda
Self
V.J. Emmie
Self
Asaba Jumah
Alex
Cathryne Czubek
Director / Editor
Matt Porwoll
Director Of Photography
Hugo Perez
Co-Director
Amanda Hughes
Editor
Moses Bwayo
Sound Mixer
Once Upon a Time in Uganda Ratings & Reviews
FilmWeek (LAist)
Amy Nicholson
The film is very fun at the very beginning... But it does fade away into a lot of repetition and self-mythologizing.
Reeling Reviews
Robin Clifford
Isaac gets the fame, but no fortune, for his work but that may change with "Once Upon a Time in Uganda."
Boulder Weekly
Michael J. Casey
The first half of "Once Upon a Time in Uganda" is about as electric as any movie about filmmaking you'll find.
What She Said
Anne Brodie
A winning and emotional documentary features a group of filmmakers in a ghetto that makes a global mark despite choppy access to the internet and electricity. Strap yourselves in and dodge the fake bullets. This is FUN.
Reeling Reviews
Laura Clifford
"Once Upon a Time in Uganda" works best illustrating the workings of this madcap bunch of filmmakers and their resulting work, clips of which are shown masked with a matte of a 70's era tube TV
New York Times
Robert Daniels
The film is strongest when capturing Nabwana's resourcefulness, the exuberance of the local volunteers who serve as his actors and crew, and the joy his films bring to a Ugandan audience hungry for movies.
RogerEbert.com
Nick Allen
"Once Upon a Time in Uganda" is the advocacy that Isaac's auteurship and ideology need most-this doc helps one re-appreciate movie-making as a compulsive, creative odyssey, a shot-by-shot pursuit of elusive inner peace.
The Last Thing I See
Brent McKnight
If you're an action fan, you owe it to yourself to dive into the filmography of no-budget Ugandan studio Wakaliwood. If you need convincing to checkout this wild cinematic mayhem, Once Upon a Time in Uganda should more than do the trick.
The Film Stage
Soham Gadre
We get to see the difficult work of filmmaking--not just the scripting and shooting, but everything surrounding the actual creative process and building a dream for Nabwana that is bigger than himself.
San Jose Mercury News
Randy Myers
Everything about Cathryne Czubek's joyous documentary about a self-taught and prolific Ugandan director named Isaac Nabwana and his sometimes co-star and devoted publicist Alan Hofman is irresistible.
Mark Reviews Movies
Mark Dujsik
Once Upon a Time in Uganda is undeniably a sales pitch ... but the behind-the-scenes fun ... makes it an undeniably convincing one, too.
Eye for Film
Jennie Kermode
A film which will remind its viewers why they fell in love with cinema in the first place.
Backseat Mafia
Rob Aldam
A lively documentary portrait of a man who against all odds has become an African action maestro.
But Why Tho?
Ricardo Gallegos
It's a tale of how the creative artistry behind the most ridiculous of head explosions can be used to create community, escapism, and love.
Film-Forward.com
Kent Turner
Cathryne Czubek's engaging account of [Isaac Nabwana's] discovery by the international press and the festival circuit should be an inspiration to budding filmmakers.
Culture Mix
Carla Hay
It's a mostly engaging and realistic look at the challenges of independent filmmaking in Uganda, as well as the highs and lows of two friends doing business with each other.
Slashfilm
Ethan Anderton
Once Upon a Time in Uganda is the perfect representation of the enduring spirit of independent cinema, our love for movies, and how they bring the world together.
The Spool
Lisa Laman
Once Upon a Time In Uganda recognizes both the personal importance and creative passion that lie within even the most ridiculous art.
Austin Chronicle
Richard Whittaker
Mixing fly-on-the-wall observation with behind-the-scenes footage and reenactments, Czubek and Perez remain respectful, and even a little awestruck, while also understanding that Nabwana just wants everyone to have a good time.
The Hollywood Reporter
John DeFore
A sloppy but exciting look at a no-budget African auteur's career.
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