AllMovie

In this charming and inventive portrayal of two Angolan legends, imagination makes up for a lack of budget, and the political ramifications of the stories give them more depth than simple children's tales. During a time of hunger, a father goes out hunting for enough food to feed his family when he finds a huge stock of grain, as well as piles of gold, menacingly guarded by evil spirits (all dressed in the American/European manner). He braves their opposition and comes back with enough food to last for awhile. The next time he goes, he reluctantly agrees to take a friend with him, but this time the friend is lured by the gold, and the evil spirits trap him. It becomes clear that if the people are to have access to the grain they so desperately need, the enemy spirits will have to be routed one way or another. Eventually, young Nelisita comes along, and, because of his ability to lead both animals and people alike, he is the first to have a real chance at defeating the spirits and obtaining enough grain and gold for everyone.