Black Ninja / Cameroun Connection

£22.00

Format: Blu-Ray

Availability: 5

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Nanarland, the site of sympathetic bad films, and Pulse Video, passionate publisher of B movies, are pleased to present a Blu-ray in homage to Alphonse Béni (1946-2023), the only African director and actor of popular films in the 70s and 80s. Polar, action, disco or martial arts, he was the Cameroonian Bébél, making frequent trips back and forth between Cameroon and France, but also Italy and Hong Kong.

A true legend throughout French-speaking Africa, his career is fascinating and for years, we have had the project of making you discover it. Unfortunately, he left us in March 2023, before we could complete the long interview that we had been preparing with him for months. Our first Blu-ray is therefore a tribute to the “Great Baobab of cinema”, whom everyone at home called Baïko, after his favorite character, for whom we have brought together two incredible films.

Black Ninja (1987) directed by Godfrey Ho

Alvin is an Interpol agent based in Paris, who is tracking a gang of drug traffickers. But he is also a ninja. When his wife is killed by ninjas sent by the dealers, he swears to avenge her. He travels to Hong Kong and joins forces with Gordon, also an Interpol Ninja, to confront the infamous Rudolph and his evil ninjas.

Alphonse Béni, a fan of martial arts films, is totally delighted to play ninjas in front of the camera of the sly Godfrey Ho. Especially since he teams up with the essential Richard Harrison, a pillar of the nanar if ever there was one (“Philippe”, that’s him!), in this priceless film shot in Hong Kong and supposed to take place in France. Hence the baguettes (which are used to hide drugs), the Gitanes and the bottles of Perrier omnipresent on the screen. Faithful to his principle of “two in one” films, Godfrey Ho generously incorporates fight scenes from a Taiwanese film. A masterpiece of the nanar, presented in a brand new 4K master that will make you discover unsuspected details, such as the graffiti in very approximate French that dot the supposedly Parisian decor: “MARIE PUTAINE” or “LA BAGUETTE EST PLEIN DE SHIT”. Also note that in order to claim citizenship in Nanarland, a perfect knowledge of Black Ninja is required.

Cameroon Connection (1984) directed by Alphonse Béni

Inspector Baïko investigates the murder of a young woman in Douala, who he discovers has a twin sister. His investigation takes him to France, where he becomes friends with Bruce, the owner of a martial arts school in Paris, but also of a beer factory in Cameroon, who offers to help him in his investigation.

Alphonse Béni convinces Hong Kong actor Bruce Le ( Bruce Strikes Back ) to participate in this first African kung fu film. He even brings along designer Paco Rabanne for a cameo appearance. Invisible since its theatrical and VHS release, Cameroun Connection is a captivating time capsule, directly in touch with life in Douala in the 80s. But Cameroun Connection is also hilarious in spite of itself, with its totally insane dialogues and Alphonse's skills in beating the punch, which are very relative to say the least, although he invests himself body and soul. Especially since he has at his side an authentic martial artist, Bruce Le, who does not hold back his punches. A little gem not to be missed, in a beautiful 4K restoration that we have entrusted to the expert care of our friends at Vinegar Syndrome.

Format
Format	Blu-Ray
Film
Year	1987, 1984
Rating	18
Director	Godfrey Ho, Alphonse Béni
Starring	Richard Harrison Alphonse Beni Stuart Smith Grant Temple Nathalie Mandière Paulo Tocha Bruce Le France L. Colletin Ariane Kah Emmanuel Tengna Athanase Esso Massa Batre
Country	Hong Kong, Canada, USA, France, Cameroon
Label	Pulse Video
Region / TV Standard	Region 0
Language	English, French (Black Ninja) French, Spanish (Cameroun Connection)
Subtitles	French (Black Ninja) English (Cameroun Connection)
Running time
Aspect ratio	2.35:1
Case type	Standard with slipcase
Extra features	“Alphonse, Blessed be you”: interview about his career with producer Jean Roke Patoudem (2023), by Régis Autran and Régis Brochier Meeting with Alphonse Béni in Yaoundé for the screening of Cameroun Connection (2022), 53 minutes High definition reconstruction of the Black Ninja trailer A Black Child (1973) short film by Alphonse Béni, for the first time on video, 20 minutes Trailers by Alphonse Béni, digitized from the negatives in high definition for this edition