Democrats

Democrats is a compelling political documentary that brings to life the tumultuous and tortuous process of creating Zimbabwe's 2013 constitution reform. Directed by Danish filmmaker, Camilla Nielsson, this 2014 film provides a bird’s-eye view of the relentless struggle between two political rivals in forging the modern fabric of Zimbabwe's politics.

The documentary features three main characters who arguably constitute the heart and soul of Zimbabwe’s political theater - Robert Mugabe, Paul Mangwana, and Douglas Mwonzora. While Mugabe - the then long-time president of Zimbabwe - is portrayed as a powerful player in the background, Mangwana and Mwonzora take center stage as representatives of the ruling party, ZANU-PF, and the opposition party, MDC, respectively.

Democrats provides a profound, intimate, and insightful look into this complex political narrative. Camilla Nielsson treads the treacherous line of political documentation with great finesse, offering audiences an unflinching depiction of the political machinations within post-colonial Zimbabwe, a country once teetering on the brink of a dictatorship.

The documentary largely follows Paul Mangwana and Douglas Mwonzora as chief negotiators for their respective parties tasked with drafting the new constitution. Mangwana, a lawyer and a seasoned political figure, stands in stark contrast to Mwonzora, a human rights lawyer relatively new to politics.

The symbolic battles between Mangwana and Mwonzora, coupled with the larger war of ideologies they represent, lends the documentary a dramatic tension that's both revealing and riveting. The conversations, arguments, and compromises that occurred behind closed doors during the constitutional reform process are laid bare in Democrats, offering audiences a unique perspective on the political maneuverings within this African nation.

Camilla Nielsson showcases frank and assertive storytelling, documenting the desolate landscapes and the crowded city streets of Zimbabwe, alongside the closed-door meetings and political rallies. The film humanizes the political process, revealing the toll it takes on the individuals involved. Shots of the bustling streets of Harare or the quiet streaming rivers of Zimbabwe depict both the physical and metaphorical landscapes of this African nation.

The brilliance of Democrats lies in its ability to weave a touching narrative while avoiding any major simplification of the complex political history and current reality of Zimbabwe. It does not shy away from forcing its audience to squirm uncomfortably as it exposes the raw and unchecked exercise of power. Furthermore, the film balances differing perspectives, presenting a nuanced understanding of Zimbabwe's political landscape without making any overreaching claims or verdicts.

Documenting three years in the life of these political rivals, Democrats provides a fascinating, yet sobering reflection on the nature of politics and power. It raises and grapples with universal political questions regarding representation, participation, and democratic ideals against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s political landscape.

What sets Democrats apart is its decision to use Zimbabwe's political process as a lens, rather than the final narrative, thereby humanizing the political entity and offering a rare glimpse into the political machinery of an African nation at a pivotal point of change. Despite drastic political differences, Mangwana and Mwonzora achieve a constitution through relentless negotiations, compromises, and an exhausting process that underscores the fragile nature of democracy.

In contrast to more sensationalized portrayals of African politics, Democrats presents the battle for power in a more discreet manner, focusing on the painstaking mechanics of building a constitution and how this process navigates and shapes the power dynamics among different stakeholders. It defiantly rejects caricatured portrayals of African politics, instead upholding respect for the dimensions and complexity of the subject matter.

In conclusion, Democrats is a rich, humanistic portrait of Zimbabwean politics as it takes its audience on an untold journey of the balance of power, democracy, and human will. Nielsson's documentary resonates far beyond Zimbabwe's borders and offers an extraordinary and complex vision of politics in action, driven by an unyielding commitment to portraying the truth.