The Mozambique Film Project was led by Robert F. Van Lierop., an African-American lawyer who gave up his law practice to make the film A Luta Continua (The Struggle Continues) about liberation struggle in Mozambique that was released in 1972. The film footage was shot in 1971 when Van Lierop and another African-American, Bob Fletcher, traveled...
The Mozambique Film Project was led by Robert F. Van Lierop., an African-American lawyer who gave up his law practice to make the film
A Luta Continua (The Struggle Continues) about liberation struggle in Mozambique that was released in 1972. The film footage was shot in 1971 when Van Lierop and another African-American, Bob Fletcher, traveled with FRELIMO in the liberated areas of Mozambique. The film depicts the armed struggle against Portuguese colonialism and FRELIMO's work to improve the status of women and provide to the needs of the people including schools, heath programs and agriculture in the liberated areas. The film was shown widely in the U.S. by groups supporting struggles against Portuguese colonialism in Mozambique, Angola and Guinea-Bissau, as well as those working on the liberation of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. Copies were also smuggled into Portugal. A film guide was produced by the Africa Information Service, which was formed to continue the work of the Mozambique Film Project and the Boston-based Africa Research Group. After Mozambique won its political independence on June 25, 1975, Van Lierop, Fletcher and Irvin Smalls returned to Mozambique and made a sequel,
O Povo Organizado (The People Organized) (1976). The film depicts the continuing nature of Mozambique's social revolution. Premieres held in cities in the United States and Canada were attended by nearly 10,000 people and viewed by television audiences of over 2 million. More than $48,000 was raised at film showings. All the funds were sent to Mozambique and used in building a health clinic in rural Niassa province. Subsequently the Mozambique Film Project organized a delegation of U.S. activists on Southern Africa to visit Mozambique. This visit led to expanding ongoing work to help free Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa, as well as support for the new government in Angola. (Source:
Anti-Apartheid Activities in the United States: A Rising Tide by Prexy Nesbitt, Statement before the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid, December 12, 1977; interview with Robert F. Van Lierop on the
No Easy Victories website; and Robert F. Van Lierop)
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