Nawi
13-year-old Nawi discovers that her father has sold her to an older man for the price of a flock of sheep. According to her mother, that is her destiny and in addition the family council approves the marriage. During her wedding night Nawi escapes to the capital, while being chased by her own family. She is determined to make her dream of going to secondary school come true.
This film is a beautifully made narration, offering an illuminating perspective on the concept of child brides. The story shows the clash between tradition and dreams, where the young actress manages to portray a character symbolising countless girls around the world. In the region where the film takes place, one out of four girls marries underage. According to UNICEF there are 640 million child brides worldwide.
- direction
- Vallentine Chelluget
- cast
- Michelle Lemuya Ikeny, Joel Liwan, Nyokabi Macharia
- duration
- 103 min
- year
- 2024
- country
- Kenya
- language
- Swahili
- Subtitles
- Nederlands
"The film delves into these old-world customs, highlighting how poverty and outdated religious practices are usually the driving forces... Nawi is bold and daring, unafraid to show the toll these decisions take on young girls." − Frank J. Avella, The Contending