Banned in Kenya – STORIES OF OUR LIVES – screens at the Labia in Cape Town from the 23rd of October.
Banned in Kenya just weeks after its world premiere in Toronto – Stories of Our Lives – portrays real-life experiences of queer Kenyans, and is drowning in requests for its screening after it received two prizes this year at the prestigiousBerlinale Film Festival.
It was described by the Huffington Post as “one of the most triumphant and stunning films of the year. “
The work began as a documentation research project of over 250 real anonymous audio interviews. Director Jim Chuchu and his team turned some of them into 5 short cinematic vignettes in black and white. Described as “a mix of journalistic chronicle, political protest and gorgeous visual poem” by the Hollywood Reporter for being a labour of love as well as a brave and honest portrayal of sexuality that stands up proudly for hope against a backdrop of fear, intolerance and violent retribution in a society where gay and lesbian relationships are deemed un-African.
Defying the climate of homophobia, the names of those involved with the film’s production were withheld throughout the eight-month filming process to protect the collective’s cast and crew from retribution. “We decided to reveal our identities as the creators of this film because we believe strongly that the fight for this right to define one’s self, this right to be complex and different and unique, should be fought for proudly and openly,” said Sunny Dolat, another member of the collective of nine. Co-executive producer George Gachara was still arrested briefly by authorities for filming ‘without a permit’.
In one story, a schoolgirl gets suspended for her budding relationship with a female student. In another, a young man eager to explore his sexuality at a clandestine gay club in Nairobi, has to contend with the violent reaction of his homophobic friend. In what has been acclaimed as the most powerful of the five shorts – Athman – the difficult relationship of a closet gay man in love with his understanding but straight best friend is explored.
The response from the Kenyan Film Classification Board was to censor it and deny it distribution rights for ‘promoting homosexuality’.
“How exactly does restricting a film – thus stifling a necessary conversation about society – safeguard national value and norms?” asks Gachara. “How flimsy are these national values and norms if they can be so dramatically shaken by a 62-minute film?”
“If we are not Africans, who are we?” the film inquires.“This film is about fighting openly for the right of Africans to have different opinions, different world views, different identities and dreams – and for all these multiple identities to co-exist,” said Chuchu, who will be visiting South Africa on 23 October (and will be available for interview).
The message of the film is clear. The forcible removal of identity by government is impossible. Identity cannot be outlawed or annihilated – only understood and tolerated.
WHERE: Labia Theatre 68 Orange St, Gardens, Cape Town 8001
STORIES OF OUR LIVES was executive produced by award-winning South African producer Steven Markovitz.
INFO: Joy Sapieka on C-0732125492 E -joyls@mweb.co.za or Tamsin Ranger on T- 012 461 5962 E – tamsin@bigworld.co.za
