Our world is truly a wonderful place, filled with hidden gems and societies that you may not have ever heard of. Shedding light on such topics, The Last Places dives into the customs and histories of indigenous tribes around Middle Africa, with an emphasis on their diverse cultures. Told through an exploration with ethnologist Joan Riera and human rights activist Diaka Salena Koroma, the documentary is not only informative but also a substantially brilliant piece of technical filmmaking.
Intrigued by the experiences of Riera throughout his years of anthropologic research, Koroma travels to his Cameroonian home in hopes of bringing attention to various native groups scattered across the continent. From the South Sudanese Dinkas to the Muila or Rainbow people of Angola and even the rainforest Baka tribe, The Last Places covers ground quickly and uncovers key traditions along the way, including lifestyles and unique practices. A major standout is the Gerewol dance of the Mbororo people, which highlights women’s ability to choose their partners in a fiery courtship ritual.
The documentary is filled with stunning locations and vibrant colors, which the camera crew masterfully captures in vivid detail. The film is sublime in terms of its visuals, balancing between intimate close-ups and sprawling drone coverage that rank among the very best out there. Sometimes the lack of consistent narration can leave some shots hanging without much context, but the variety of media on display remains striking.
Moreover, the documentary feels complete, which is quite a statement considering it boldly sets out to explore so many areas in just 90 minutes. Riera and Koroma let their stories breathe while they discuss the history of each group in a comfortably subdued setting in Riera’s beautifully adorned research facility. The conversation-driven segments are not only well shot but also take on a more informal tone that brings out the personalities of the two professionals.
The Last Places offers a comprehensive journey through some of Africa’s most remote regions. It conveys a lot without ever feeling overwhelming and should be a must-watch for anyone remotely interested in anthropologically driven filmmaking.
