I always cherish the blank state of not knowing what I’m heading toward once I sit in that cinema chair, only to walk out nourished with stunning visuals and transformed by the carefully crafted themes. Such was the British Council-sponsored screening at Sarit Centre on Wednesday, where a collection of seven short films from across East Africa was showcased in celebration of the creative diversity of Kenya and the UK.
Now hop in and let’s rock this cinematic breakdown boat together.
SÈT LAM – Since time immemorial, we have tried to understand the full concept of death, but failed. Hence, giving way to numerous interpretations, Sèt Lam by Vincent Fontano is as such. The film takes place in an isolated city and follows a young girl who is paralyzed by her fear of losing her loved ones. Her grandmother shares the story of Edwardo, the first of his kind to confront death.
The most visually striking of them all, Sèt Lam comes brilliantly close to a cosmic cinematic experience. Interactions between Eduardo and Death are surely a feast for the eyes with awe-striking astral background and ground-shaking battle in the form of dance, with every impact leaving a mark on the fictional universe.
LOVE & BRAIN – Now this…I’ll just let the synopsis speak for itself. A date is interrupted by breaking news of a zombie apocalypse, but there’s a catch; it is speculated that zombie meat enlarges male genitals, so, yeah, the roles get reversed. What follows is mayhem as every man chases a zombie for a piece.
This Ethiopian piece by Semagngeta Aychiluhem employs impeccable pacing and comedic timing with every creative decision in just 4 minutes, a short, impossible to miss.
SCALP DEEP – An animated short by Naseeba Bagalaaliwo, Scalp Deep follows a lady who cuts her long hair and receives much scrutiny for it. This prompts old memories of backlash for having long-black-beautiful hair as a child, but advice from her loving mother induces confidence and the will to go against societal labels.
Scalp Deep is a statement that addresses what most of us converse about deep in our conscience, reflected by gazes disposed to box women into certain stereotypes. The silent short employs impeccable use of sound effects to forward the story and infuse engaging comedic moments
TRANSACTION – A short by Wanjeri Gakuru, Transaction follows Waks, a plus-sized 25-year-old lady who decides to experience sexual pleasure on her own terms. Defiant of religious and familial pressure, she visits a male brothel where she encounters Mburu wa Thao, a sex worker who connects with her not only physically but emotionally, a catalyst for her to overcome the fear and mental barriers rooted in stigmas.
Transaction flexes hard through performances from Gashiki Gashiki and Elsaphan Njora. Their chemistry is hard to ignore, with every second filled with heartfelt, romantic, and hilarious moments that ring true to the short’s theme.
AN ODE TO A TIME I LOVED BREAD – This hit home, as I suppose it will for every boarding school alumnus who, I reckon, is most of us. Neema Ngelime uses the reverence of bread in such institutions to flashback to some of the dogmas and trauma-inducing events inflicted that have influenced her present, as well as laying out her journey of living through them, not letting them define her.
The use of paper cuts and still frames made it stand out from the rest, and the voice-over made her story feel much more relatable and resonant.
ROLEX – Not the watch, a famous Ugandan dish that turned out to be a brilliant use of Chekov’s Gun. Four robbers break into a home, first poisoning the guard dog with tainted beef. Casualties occur during the robbery, but it is ultimately successful. Once they arrive at their headquarters, the boss orders two of the robbers to bring the getaway car around and fetch him a “Rolex,” a dish he has been craving since the beginning. One of the robbers suggests a two-way split of the haul, but his greedy companion decides to kill him instead, wanting to keep all the money for himself. After committing the murder, he drives off with the “Rolex” in his mouth, only to discover that it was also poisoned. He soon succumbs to the poison and collapses in the middle of the road.
This Tarantino-esque short by Swangz Films invites us into Ugandan culture through its music and dialogue, but a standout is the action, elevated by wonderful choreography and SFX.
STERO – Admit it, you had a larger-than-life imaginary friend as a kid, or just maybe a fictional figure you looked up to, well, so does Bruce (Played by Kael Wafubwa), the main character in Stero, who relies on an imaginary martial arts sensei (Played by Lucarrelli Onyango) to invoke courage especially in his school, where the strict rules bug him immensely.
Stero, by Tevin Kimathi, shines through the innocence of its protagonist, who learns to channel courage from within but also realizes that reality does not subscribe to our fantasies. I’m not telling you how, watch it!
