Sci-fi hits Kenya's movie screens

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 22 – Pumzi, Kenya’s first sci-fi flick is a bit of a hard sell. I would buy it though, why, because it is creative. Wanuri Kahiu is a master – or is it mistress – of intricacies.

She can weave meaning into a message that has been worn out by corniness. She did ‘forgiveness’ with From a Whisper and with Pumzi, she is doing ‘Climate Change’.

Would you believe it? Climate Change, I mean… Pumzi starts and ends in the future. When there is nothing left in the world but humans. No water. No other kind of life and the regime is intent on keeping the few humans left alive.

It’s a rigid regime. So it takes Asha (Kudzani) more than determination to try and restore the whole system and to say it is a daunting task is an understatement.

I will not say much more because it is only about 24 minutes long. I think if Wanuri had a bigger field to play in it would be yet another masterpiece from the young lady, she’s 29.

Wanuri’s movie got good reviews from her maiden audience.

“This was amazing for me. The best thing was that people understood it. I was scared when I shot it that people would not understand the message I was trying to put across. I am happy they did,” she told Capital Lifestyle.

The movie was shot in Cape Town and it took six days to complete, with lots of on-scene shoots and one studio piece. 

“It took me two years to write. It wasn’t easy,” she says.

“I dedicate this movie to my nieces and nephews. They are the future. I want to show them that they can make a change. Even if they think it is not substantial…”

Climate change – it is now. A little goes a long way. That’s my two cents.

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