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2010 Kenyan film
Soul Boy
Directed by
Hawa Essuman Written by
Billy Kahora Produced by Marie Steinmann
Tom Tykwer Siobhain "Ginger" Wilson Guy Wilson Verena Rahmig Sarika Hemi Lakhani Starring Samson Odhiambo Leila Dayan Opou Krysteen Savane Frank Kimani Joab Ogolla Lucy Gachanja Katherine Damaris Kevin Onyango Omondi Calvin Shikuku Odhiambo Nordeen Abdulghani Cinematography Christian Almesberger Edited by Ng´ethe Gitungo Music by Xaver von Treyer Release dates
January 2010 (2010-01 ) (
Göteborg )
March 4, 2010 (2010-03-04 ) (Kenya)
December 2, 2010 (2010-12-02 ) (Germany)
Running time
61 minutes Country
Kenya Language Swahili
Soul Boy
[1] is a 2010
Kenyan
drama film , written by
Billy Kahora and directed by
Hawa Essuman . It developed under the mentorship of
German director and producer
Tom Tykwer in
Kibera , one of the largest slums in the African continent, in the middle of
Nairobi ,
Kenya . The film has received five nominations at the 2011
Africa Movie Academy Awards .
[2]
[3]
The film originated in a workshop for young film enthusiasts from Nairobi, guided by German director Tom Tykwer.
Plot
Nairobi, Kenya. 14-year-old Abila lives with his parents in Kibera, one of the largest slums in East Africa. One morning the teenager discovers his father ill and delirious. Someone has stolen his soul, mumbles the father. Abila is shocked and confused but wants to help his father and goes in search of the right remedy. Supported by his girlfriend Shiku, he embarks on an adventurous journey that leads him right to the heart of the microcosm that is his hometown.
Cast
Samson Odhiambo
Leila Dayan Opou
Krysteen Savane
Frank Kimani
Joab Ogolla
Lucy Gachanja
Katherine Damaris
Kevin Onyango Omondi
Calvin Shikuku Odhiambo
Nordeen Abdulghani
Awards
Veto Award - Afrika Filmfestival Leuven,
Belgium
Signis Award - Zanzibar International Film Festival
[4]
Polish Filmmakers Association Award -
Ale Kino! International Young Audience Film Festival ,
Poznań ,
Poland
Best Short Film -
Kalasha Awards , Nairobi, Kenya
[5]
Best Lead Actor: Samson Odhiambo - Kalasha Awards, Nairobi, Kenya
[5]
Best Scriptwriter: Billy Kahora - Kalasha Awards, Nairobi, Kenya
[5]
Best Actor: Samson Odhiambo - Kenya International Film Festival, Nairobi, Kenya
[6]
Best East African Film - Kenya International Film Festival, Nairobi, Kenya
[7]
Special Mention "Passeurs d’images" prize - Festival Ciné Junior (Ciné Junior film festival for Kids),
Paris ,
France
The Young Jury Prize - Festival Ciné Junior, Paris, France
Best Fiction Award 2011 - European Spiritual Film Festival, Paris, France
Best Children's Film Award 2011 - Kirchliches Filmfestival Recklinghausen (
de ), Germany
[8]
Best Editor: Ephantus Ng'ethe Gitungo -
Africa Movie Academy Awards
[9]
Festivals
Germany
2010:
Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)
[10]
International
2010
2010:
Gothenburg Film Festival
[11]
2010:
International Film Festival Rotterdam
[12]
2010: Afrika-Filmfestival
[13]
2010
Edinburgh International Film Festival
[14]
2010
Durban International Film Festival
[15]
2010
Sydney Film Festival
[16]
2010 Cinemafrica Stockholm
[17]
2010 Nairobi, Kenya Premiere
2010 African Film Festival Tarifa
[18]
2010 Sydney Film Festival
[19]
2010
Festival du Cinéma Africain de Khouribga
[20]
2010 Seoul Intl Youth Film Festival
[21]
2010 Montreal World Film Festival
[22]
2010 Cinemas D'Afrique
[23]
2010 Cambridge Film Festival
[24]
2010 Montreal Intl Black Film Festival
[25]
2010 Films From the South OSLO
[26]
2010 Hamptons Intl Film Festival
[27]
2010 Warsaw Film Festival
[28]
2010 Carlow African Film Festival
[29]
2010 Discovery Film Festival
[30]
2010 Chicago Intl Children's Film Festival
[31]
2010 Carthage Film Festival
[32]
2010 African Diaspora Film Festival NY
[33]
2010 Palm Springs Film Festival
[34]
2010 San Diego Black Film Festival
[35]
2010 Adelaide Film Festival
[36]
2010 FESPACO, Burkina Faso
[37]
2010 Birds Eye View FF
[38]
2010 FEBIOFEST
[39]
2010 Toronto IFF for children
[40]
2010 ReelWorld Film Festival
[41]
2010
Ecrans Noirs - Cameroun
[42]
2010
Rwanda Film Festival
[43]
2010 Zanzibar Film Festival, Tanzania
[44]
2010 Zimbabwe International Film Festival
2010 Kenya International Film Festival
[45]
2010 Amakula Kampala International FilmFestival, Uganda
[46]
2010 Ethiopia Film Festival
[47]
2010 Festival du film de Dakar, Senegal
2010 Quintessence, Benin
[48]
2011
Cinema Le Bretagne (France)
[49]
Plein La Bobine (France)
[50]
Addis Film Festival (Ethiopia)
[51]
Chennai Women In Films Festival (India)
[52]
Fiuggi Family Festival (Italy)
[53]
Salaam Festival (Denmark)
[54]
Cine Sparks Festival (Australia)
[55]
Reception
Critical response
Andrew Onyango reviewing for
KenyaBuzz was mesmerized by how much "surreal" the world of the movie is, adding that the scripts use of Swahili strengthened the film's impact: "The Swahili speaking audience (particularly those exposed to the dialect being used) feel a powerful sense of identification. There is nothing like hearing it firsthand because the translation loses some of the impact of the words."
[56]
References
External links
Feature films Short films Writer only Producer only Television