The first Date ends with a vow. On a roof high above your neighborhood on the outskirts of Nairobi Ziki (Sheila Munyiva) and Kena (Samantha Mugatsia) make a promise to never be like the people down there. Instead, the two young women want to be “something Real”. Smiling, hook your little fingers into each other and look love in the eyes.
Really means different. The two do not want to as a typical Kenyan Housewives, the the whole day cooking and cleaning. Real-but it also means danger, because relationships between people of the same sex are outlawed in Kenya, homosexuality is an offence, the Church of fuck you. One of the first scenes of Wanuri Kahius movie “Rafiki” shows a Homo-hostile Tirade against a young man who goes to a snack stand. Here, in the case of the tell-tale operator and their daughter also Kena like being with your best friend Blacksta (Neville Misati). It raises only timid statement of opposition to the outburst of Hatred, it is the taboos of their society, but very aware. With your Skateboard and your boyish Occur moved you anyway on a narrow ridge.
the fathers of The young women are competitors
That you and Ziki is constantly on the road together, critically, because their fathers are rivals in just hot ongoing local election campaign. Kenaz father, who operates a Kiosk, has considerably more modest means than the Zikis, the can afford as a successful business man with a big sound trucks.
Wanuri Kahiu, who wrote along with Jenna Bass, the on a short story based on the screenplay, not only of the Romeo-and-Juliet, she tells her story at all in the classic than the timid approach of two teenagers experiencing their first love. The good chemistry between their protagonists – both of them are debutantes – makes up a large part of the charm of “Rafiki” (friend). Moreover, the Film in the music clip-like montages are woven looks, fantastic: Wanuri Kahiu puts on a colorful colour concept with Pink and Purple as the dominant tones. Which, by the way, an appropriation of colors, a reclaiming of pink is that otherwise connotes the stereotype female and heterosexual, so to speak.
neon luminous Lovers dancing in the Morning
As a sumptuous visual highlight, they staged the night, as Kena and Ziki kiss for the first Time. Fine made you attend a Party, which takes place in the black light. With fluorescent Makeup on the face they dance neon bright up in the Morning.
This happiness and beauty radiating sequence fits well to the Kahiu coined the concept of the “Afro-Bubblegum”, which builds on the Tradition of Afro-futurism. To tell instead of just poverty and in need of help, would you represent “Africa, full of hope, fun way,” as she explained at last year’s Cannes Festival, where “Rafiki” as the first Kenyan Film had Premiere and was celebrated.
Quite different in Kenya where the film classification authority imposed a ban. Their chief, Ezekial Mutua, said: “We cannot allow a movie that gives the impression that homosexuality in Kenya is unacceptable.” On same-sex Sex is not to be seen in the Film, by the way – there are up to 14 years in prison. Because “Rafiki” tried according to Mutua, “to legitimize homosexuality and to normalize,” he was banned. Just as it was for 2015, the black-and-white episode of the film “Stories of our Lives” that is told based on Interviews with Kenyan Gays and lesbians five queer stories from everyday life.
The ban was for a week
Wanuri Kahiu repealed legally defended himself against the judgment of the classification authority and won at least a small success: In September, your Film was allowed to run for a week in the cinema – and could be filed as Kenya’s Oscar candidate. Although it was not enough for a nomination, but the “Rafiki”-the performances were sold out for the whole week.
Also through digital channels of the Film, viewers will find indoor and viewers in Kenya and across Africa, especially for marginalized queer communities of meaning. Often criminalized and socially isolated, they are represented in the cultural life – especially when it comes to positive depictions of queer life. “Rafiki” sets, especially for young lesbian women is an encouraging sign, which is, of course, not only is everything pink lights, but the Gay hostility of Zikis, and Kenaz environment manifests itself gradually becoming stronger.
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Because of the lesbian love story, Cannes-contribution from Kenya in our own country
In the Church, where the neighborhood comes together, the sermon of the priest against Gays and lesbians is prohibited. The import of religion, Christianity fought as UN-applicable “sinners”, is utterly absurd. However, after such contradictions, Kenaz does not ask a mother. She sees her daughter from demon-possessed and increases the violence, the half is the girl in the second Movie did. That “Rafiki” nevertheless has a optimistic conclusion, is important. And in the sense of Afro-Bubblegum.
OmU: City Kino Wedding, Delphi LUX, fsk, Sputnik, Wolf, Xenon
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