Machine Boys

MACHINE BOYS is a rare dive into a foundational myth of modern masculinity: the motorbike as a symbol of freedom and power. Contemporary cowboys of sorts, the Machine Boys of Lagos present themselves as strong men, scoffing at danger and seeking freedom on the road. Karimah Ashadu scrapes away the first layer of this to reveal the harshness of working in complete precarity, preyed upon by the police and the street themselves. Awarded the Silver Lion at the latest Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art, MACHINE BOYS is a topical tale of bravery and hope. (Rebecca De Pas)

This film will be shown as part of the screening SHORT FILM PROGRAM 3: DESIRES.