Tug of War | |
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Vuta N'Kuvute | |
Directed by | Amil Shivji |
Screenplay by | |
Based on | Vuta N'Kuvute by Shafi Adam Shafi |
Produced by | |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Zenn van Zyl |
Edited by |
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Music by |
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Production companies |
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Release date | 12 September 2021 (TIFF) |
Running time | 1hr 32m |
Country | Tanzania |
Language | Swahili |
Tug of War (original title: Vuta N'Kuvute) is a 2021 Tanzanian coming-of-age political drama about love and resistance set in the final years of British colonial Zanzibar. The film was directed by Amil Shivji based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Adam Shafi. [1] [2] Tug of War is Tanzania's second entry ever, and its first in 21 years, for the Academy Award Best International Feature category. [3] [4] In November 2022, it was awarded the Tanit d'Or, the top prize at Tunisia's Carthage Film Festival. [5]
Taking place in 1950s Zanzibar, Tug of War is set during the movement to win independence for Zanzibar, then a British Protectorate. Denge, a young freedom fighter trained in the Soviet Union, distributes “Free Zanzibar” pamphlets and recruits people to the cause. One of his recruits is Yasmin, a run-away bride from a privileged, upper class Indian-Zanzibari family. She falls in love with Denge and becomes committed to the independence movement. [6]