New & Notable: Jonah
Directed By : Kibwe Tavares
The Greeks and Romans had the Ketus, slain by Perseus and Heracles. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all have their versions of Jonah. Disney gave us Pinocchio and Monstro. Monstro swallows Geppetto which forces Pinnochio to attempt a daring rescue and ultimately sacrifice himself for his father. Talk about a mindf***. Giant Fish have been transforming men since stories started being told. In each case, these monstrous creatures play with the allegory in their own way, but they all point to one reliable source of meaning; the undisputed power of God.
“Jonah”, directed by Kibwe Tavares, follows in these traditions. The main character, Mbwana, a young man uninterested in the picturesque fishing village he lives in, happens upon a giant fish. 
Mbwana takes the image of this beast and uses it to transform his small town into an international tourist attraction and bring the excitement he longs for into his life. In the process, he corrupts everything and at the end Mbwana is left with nothing. He is a fool to the world, when it happens again; Mbwana stumbles upon the giant fish. This time however, Mbwana must destroy it and everything it represents. It is an intelligent and intense struggle.
I cannot shower the filmmaking here with enough praise. All I will say is that this is a must see.
Sometimes a Good Notion 