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Nawi

Vallentine Chelluget
festival
Fri 24 Apr 26 - Sun 3 May 26
  • Content rating: Caution with children up to 16 years of age

In many countries, child marriages are still a horrible reality. This Kenyan film tells the touching story of a young girl who escapes such a marriage in order to make her dream of a further education come true. 

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.

Nawi
direction
Vallentine Chelluget
cast
Michelle Lemuya Ikeny, Joel Liwan, Nyokabi Macharia
duration
103 min
year
2024
country
Kenya
language
Swahili
Subtitles
Nederlands
  • Content rating: Caution with children up to 16 years of age

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Regisseur

Vallentine Chelluget

director

"The film delves into these old-world customs, highlighting how poverty and outdated religious practices are usually the driving forces...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

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