Get the latest gossip
‘Nawi’ Review: Four Kenyan Filmmakers Collaborate on an Earnest Social Message Movie About Child Marriage
In the lead role, young actor Michelle Lemuya Ikeny gives a performance of astounding grit and grace.
As she’s being celebrated by her teacher and friends, and as a TV news crew interviews her for her academic accomplishments, a plan is hatched by her father Eree (Ochungo Benson) to marry her off to a much older man. This mother-and-daughter dynamic is warmly portrayed, and the actors show palpable affection that explains how Nawi grew up to become courageous and graceful — she had lots of love and support. Even as the screenplay runs out of ideas and resorts to obvious melodrama, Ikeny remains the sole reason to engage with “Nawi.” The character goes through a lot: she escapes, she tries to hitchhike to Nairobi, she becomes a mentor and teacher to a group of boys her age, and she has to make many critical decisions.
Or read this on Variety
