Presented by TOPS with the Goethe-Institut
Rafiki (Kenya, Germany, South Africa, Netherlands, France, Norway, Lebanon, U.S., 2018, 83 min.) drama directed by Wanuri Kahiu.
With short films:
I Like Girls, directed by Diane Obomsawin, 2016
Erin’s Guide To Kissing Girls, directed by Julianna Notten, 2018
Sunday, June 30th
Films @ Sundown
Eats & Treats @ 6pm
Free / Pay what you can
Christie Pits Park is an accessible venue
“Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives,” but Kena and Ziki long for something more. Despite the political rivalry between their families, the girls resist and remain close friends, supporting each other to pursue their dreams in a conservative society. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between happiness and safety.
Rafiki premiered at Cannes in 2018. Because it wasn't possible to find funding in Kenya for a homosexual lovestory the filmmakers looked for co-production opportunities in Europe and the U.S. Rafiki was initially banned in Kenya. The film's director, Wanuri Kahiu, sued against the ban, so the film would be screened and become eligible to be submitted as Kenya's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards in 2019. The Kenyan High Court allowed it to be screened for seven days. Rafiki was then shown to a sold-out crowd at a cinema in Nairobi.
"From its opening frames, Rafiki is bursting with life." -
AVFilm
"Groundbreaking lesbian romance aims to change Kenyan hearts and minds" -
theguardian.com
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