Today were focusing on a mombasa image as the starter pic. One of the most beautiful towns I have had the pleasure of visiting. To those coast peeps trying to protest, ati "Pwani si Kenya", don't you dare take mombasa, malindi, Diani, hell, all of it away from us. KDF just beat the Al-shabaab, let them come home and rest. Mombasa is very special to kenyans. A holidaying spot, second largest city and all... Its also one of the town's "Jack Zollo" "travelled to" in his "career" as a criminal. If you haven't read "My life In crime" so... no! I aint saying sorry for that. You shoud've read the biggest kenyan bestseller, besides the bible. Word.
Last post, I'd mentioned that I was a fan of Nairobi Half Life, without and before watching it. So I decided
to make a plan, on a sunday afternoon, with dear mother, at westgate, to watch it. It was ... ... more on this later.... Then I happened to hear of the Kenya buzz competion on writing "Nairobi Half Life: Film review". I religiously wrote my own and its on the kenya buzz website, awaiting acceptance and I wait for that e-mail informing me of winning the competition. The Reward is 1)the winning review to be printed onto the Star Newspaper and 2) 15,000 dol.... kenya shillings (almost got you there, hehe). Here is the link to the competition page, /kenyabuzz.com/ but for the meantime, here is my review... Quote unquote.
Nairobi Half Life Review
Nairobi half life (2012) is an action flick commandeered by David 'Tosh' Gitonga, penned by Serah mwihaki, A collaboration of Ginger Ink Films and One fine day Films. A present day story of Mwas (Joseph Wairimu), an aspiring actor from 'mashambani' who dreams of becoming a spartan in the performers world. He's told that 'He's good' by an actor from a travelling theatre troupe, but his Achilles heel is "Ako ocha". He decides to travel to Nairobi, to put down roots in the acting world. His pursuit of his dreams coincidentally lands him in trouble, in the Central Police Station cages, where he meets Oti (Maina Olwenya), a cocky criminal cooling his heels in the cells. They strike a surprising partnership and once released, combine brains and brawn with the other gang members, Mose, Waf and Kyalo, to eke out a living in the criminal underworld. The story is chronological and set in the Kenyan Highlands, Nairobi city and suburban slums and estates in a community slightly above the poverty line.
What hit me was the rawness of this film. The use of indigenous languages and dialects, Swahili, Kikuyu and Sheng' is exemplary. The director and cast give a bare knuckled tale of the Kenyan criminal underworld; the experiences, dreams and realities of its Inhabitants are not held back. Neither is the swearing and use of profane language when the need arises, always rising to the occasion; whether to avoid being under cut during "business" deals or friendly banter with the local corrupt officers.
Images of cramped 10" by 10" rooms shared by six people and those of closed corridors where commercial sex workers advertise and "sell" their wares, gay scenes to grand theft auto in the leafy suburbs make the story unique. The film scores are a combination of underground hiphop by Ukoo Flani "Halisi", Rap by P-unit "hodi hodi", Afro-electro-pop by Just a band "Hahe" and Original scores by Xavier von Treyer. "Live and die in eastleigh" is also played. "Hahe" by Just a band was the best placed of all, as they steal tyres from cars in the dead of night. The song plays, "Tuko works Mzeiya" as the cinema hall erupted in applause. Hmm, who knows, we may have more gangsters in Nairobi than we originally thought.
The use of locations and personalities familiar to the Kenyan and Nairobi population gives the film an authentic feel, a story told on the same streets and buildings we walk by daily. Settings like Sarova Stanley, Machakos bus station, Kenya Cinema, Pension towers, The Hilton Nairobi, Kenya National Theatre, Phoenix players theatre and the countless fries cafes in the Central business District. In addition Known actors such as Nini Wacera, Eddi Kimani, Ojiambo Ainea, Nancy Wanjiku, Gilbert Lukalia, Kenneth Gichoya considerably increase the familiarity.
The were three disappointing aspects of the film. The extras, over emphasization on poverty and the scenes in motion. The extra's were very plastic in their acting, as if they held their breath every time the camera focused in their direction. I very much doubt that they were actors, and am sure there are very many natural career extras in Kenya who would gladly show up for filming. Too much of anything is a bad thing, too much poverty is even worse. A few scenes of the highlife would have been highly appreciated, Tosh Gitonga. Moving scenes were poorly done, in no constant direction, haphazard.
The message of redemption, hope, is very strong throughout the film, only eclipsed by a feel good syndrome. Countless jokes are cracked during the film, from Mwas falling through the roof to making fun of Mose who aspires to "sing like kidum". The movie is uplifting and proves that in the midst of all the poverty and misery, a few laughs are possible.
Personally, I loved the film, from the opening score to the credits. The directing was well done, Script was awesome the acting was superb ,especially Oti, who I suspect might be a gangster, night shift of course and Nini who might have had her phone stolen a couple of times too many. The editing was good, mirrored by the setting. Camera work was spectacular, especially the zooming in and out of crowds. Choreography of the fighting scene was we'll done, believable. Montage scenes were well executed. The message was very strong, and answers several important questions. So one question still stands...
"Have we really chosen to be who we are?"Written By: Dean Gichukie.
Below is one of my favourite images of a Nairobi Sunset. Glad I could share it with you. Courtesy of "Mutua Matheka photography"
Adios Amigos,
Dean.
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