
In Memories of Love Returned, director Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine delivers a documentary that begins as a celebration of forgotten artistry and gradually morphs into an intricate exploration of legacy, memory, and a complicated web of personal histories. What starts as an archival project to preserve the extensive body of work of rural Ugandan photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, soon takes on unexpected layers of emotional and cultural significance. The result is a deeply moving film that is a tribute to the power of photography and the complexities of human connection.
Mwine’s journey with Kibaate’s work began in 2002 when, after his car broke down in the small Ugandan town of Mbirizi, he happened upon the photographer’s modest portrait studio. What he found there was decades’ worth of fascinating, intimate photographs that captured the everyday lives of Ugandan citizens with elegance. Kibaate’s lens documented people and the passage of time, preserving faces, fashions, and fleeting moments that might otherwise have been lost to history. Recognizing the significance of this work, Mwine dedicated the next two decades to archiving Kibaate’s images, culminating in an outdoor exhibition in the heart of Mbirizi, where the community could see itself reflected in the late artist’s work.
“…an intricate exploration of legacy, memory, and a complicated web of personal histories…”
Had Memories of Love Returned ended here, it would have stood as a stirring memorial to a hidden master. Instead, Mwine’s film transforms an already compelling story into something rich and complex. As the documentary advances, we learn more of Kibaate’s personal life, marked by multiple wives, dozens of children, and deeply held family tensions. Mwine himself becomes increasingly entwined in this narrative, navigating the fallout of the exhibition while reflecting on his own health struggles and heritage. With this, the film evolves into a contemplation of the burden and beauty of preserving history. And not just the parts we want to remember but also the messy, uncomfortable truths that come with it.
Mwine’s direction is immersive, weaving together interviews, rough archival footage, and his own recollections with natural flair. Joe Fenstermaker, maintains a fluid, conversational rhythm with his editing, drawing us into the warmth and colour of Kibaate’s world while allowing the more fraught revelations to land with subtle poignancy. A vibrant African pop soundtrack adds to the moments of joy, reinforcing the idea that even the most complicated legacies are worth celebrating.
Executive-produced by Steven Soderbergh, Memories of Love Returned has already attracted significant attention on the festival circuit, and rightly so. This is a film that rejects simple narratives and instead embraces the contradictions and complexities that make life—and art—so meaningful. It’s a film about the past, yes, but it’s also about the present: about who gets to tell stories, who gets remembered, and what it means to truly honour a legacy. This is an elegant, unexpected, and deeply affecting film and an absolute must-see.

"… a celebration of forgotten artistry..."