From the outset of “Nawi,” two things are apparent. Firstly, the film is carried by a fantastic lead performance. The character in question (played by Michelle Lemuya Ikeny), is 13 years old and dreams of going to high school but has to confront a culture that enforces patriarchal traditions onto her. She is being prepared for marriage with a handsome amount of oxen as dowry. Secondly, Toby Schmutzler, Kevin Schmutzler, Vallentine Chelluget and Apuu Mourine’s creative team have made it so much about child marriage that it looses its cinematic and entertainment value. In their political aim, these four co-directors end up ignoring the solid performance of their main actress who was deserving a better stage to showcase her talent.
“Nawi” was selected as Kenya’s representative at this year’s Oscars; it takes place in Turkana which is in northern Kenya’s rural area. It is based on true events and starts with its strong-minded young protagonist excellently performing in elementary school entrance examination results.
Even as she is being feted by her teacher and friends, and while a TV news crew interviews her for her scholastic achievements, his father Eree (Ochungo Benson) plans to marry off his daughter to an elderly man.
She has to save them all being the only girl in the family and sacrificing herself that dowry can support them. According to what she writes in her diary, “sixtysheep, 8 camels 100 goats.no more no less”.
The film’s lead up to the wedding takes time portraying Nawi’s patriarchal family set up and the complicated interactions within. Eree happens to be the head of this household with two wives; Ekai (Nungo Marrianne Akinyi) plus Rosemary (Michelle Chebet Tiren). The second wife, Rosemary who is younger gave birth to Nawi. These opening scenes bring real drama as well as tension within the family unit. Both Eree’s wives are convinced that Nawi ought to assume roles of a spouse as well as motherhood without questioning anything about their society’s culture.
Ekai says it as it is, while Rosemary persuasively explains to Nawi all the positive aspects of having a bright daughter like her. The relationship between mother and daughter is well portrayed in an affectionate manner; such love and encouragement are said to be responsible for her bravery and good manners. Also, Nawi has a bittersweet but playful brotherly bond with Joel (Joel Liwan), despite them having different mothers.
Ikeny anchors the movie through an emotionally acute performance that doesn’t allow for any ambiguity in the narrative. For numerous scenes, the camera focuses on Ikeny’s face, capturing her reactions in many close shots. Ikeny is always watchable and manages to convey silently what her character is feeling. This might be too much for such a young actor who comfortably outshines most aging actors: occupying the space and carrying their films alone in terms of quality.
When its screenplay runs out of ideas and resorts to trite melodrama, Ikeny keeps “Nawi” interesting by herself. Basically, this girl undergoes so much including escaping from home, trying to hitchhike to Nairobi, becoming a mentor/teacher of some boys same age as she is plus making tough choices among others things.
Ikeny throughout this long journey portrays Nawi as brave, rebellious, afraid and disoriented all at the same time. The character and the actor also grow up on screen and both exhibit genuine toughness and determination.
But Ikeny’s acting cannot save the movie during its final moments. It started off as a character study but then has ended in a typical public service announcement. Thus, the film loses artistic value and dramatic credibility while it tries to convince its audience about child marriage that is so serious issue. This is an important matter which needs to be urgently tackled and have made noise or loudly spoken about across the globe, however it should not have been put in such forthright manner on film.
For instance, they use hackneyed techniques such as having an actor breakaway from his role by speaking directly into camera without thinking what will happen to their main character even though they had earlier set them up with a story line. Certainly, the filmmakers were well intended when they worked with different NGOs in telling this story; nevertheless, it turns out to be nothing more than another educating tool something that could have easily been produced by one of these humanitarian organizations themselves.
For more movies like Nawi(2024) visit solarmovie
