Teza (2008): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Teza is a 2008 drama directed by Haile Gerima, starring Aaron Arefe as Anberber, Mengistu Zelalem and Abiye Tedla. It runs 2 hours 20 minutes and earned $158,999 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 20m (140 min)
- Director
- Haile Gerima
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Amharic - Studio
- Negod-Gwad Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Teza About?
The premise of Teza without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Returning to Ethiopia after studying medicine in Germany, Anberber confronts the brutal Mengistu regime that has turned his homeland into chaos. His aspirations to heal the populace are thwarted as the military junta exploits scientists for its agenda. Seeking refuge in his rural home, he faces violence and rival factions, forcing him to decide whether to endure the strain or rebuild a fractured life.
Teza Themes & Keywords
· 32 tags- ethiopian
- cross cultural relationship
- hope
- warrior
- diaspora
- pain
- post colonialism
- immigrant
- african
- africa
- communism
- feudalism
+20 more Show fewer
- west berlin west germany
- socialist
- berlin wall
- friendship
- friend
- addis ababa ethiopia
- west germany
- 1970s
- flashback
- shaman
- exorcism
- illiteracy
- mother son relationship
- tragic event
- politics
- civil war
- village
- exile
- return home
- ethiopia
Teza Cast & Characters
Aaron Arefe leads the cast as Anberber, with Mengistu Zelalem as Anberber as a child and Abiye Tedla as Tesfaye. Directed by Haile Gerima; 9 actors are credited in all.
- Director Haile Gerima
- Aaron Arefe as Anberber
- Mengistu Zelalem as Anberber as a child
- Abiye Tedla as Tesfaye
- Araba E. Johnston Arthur as Cassandra
Also Starring in Teza
· 5 more- Teje Tesfahun Azanu
- Nebiyu Baye Ayalew
- Takelech Beyene Tadfe
- Wuhib Bayu Abdul
- Veronika Avraham Gabi
More from Haile Gerima
More films directed by Haile Gerima, best-rated first: Sankofa, Teza, Ashes and Embers and Bush Mama.
Teza Plot Summary
What happens in Teza from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Anberber returns to his remote Ethiopian village after years abroad in Germany and the capital, carrying memories that don’t quite fit his present life. The opening reels pull viewers into a non-linear moodboard: a chanting priest wrapped in light fabrics, a badly injured man on a hospital stretcher, and a recurring image of a child who later emerges as a hallucination. An eerie sunrise over a cliff-side priest playing a traditional harp and a mother by a wood fire, watching the smoke, set a tone of superstition, memory, and unsettled history. The elder woman who will be revealed as his mother sits with worry as the village awaits something she can’t quite name.
Full summary
The whole story of Teza, scene by scene
Teza Box Office
Teza grossed $158,999 worldwide. $30,070 came from the US and Canada and $128,929 (81%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$159K
- US & Canada
- $30.1K
- International
- $128.9K
Teza Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Teza.
How Well Do You Know Teza?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main character that returns to his remote Ethiopian village after years abroad?
Teza Also Known As
3 alternative titles, including “Morgentau” and “טזה”.
- Also known as
-
- Morgentau
- טזה
- 露水
Seen Teza?
Movies Like Teza
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Teza, Anbessa and Maangamizi: The Ancient One.
Teza FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Teza, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Teza?
Teza runs 2 hours 20 minutes (140 minutes).
When was Teza released?
Teza was released on September 2, 2008.
Who directed Teza?
Teza was directed by Haile Gerima.
More films by Haile Gerima Who is in the cast of Teza?
Teza stars Aaron Arefe as Anberber, Mengistu Zelalem as Anberber as a child and Abiye Tedla as Tesfaye, among 9 credited actors.
How much did Teza make at the box office?
Teza grossed $158,999 worldwide ($30,070 domestic, $128,929 international).
Does Teza have a post-credit scene?
No. Teza has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Teza in?
The original language of Teza is Amharic.
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