Synopsis
Convicted of witchcraft, 8-year-old Shula is brought to live in a penal colony where witches do hard labour in service of the government.
I Am Not a Witch
2017 Directed by Rungano Nyoni
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Alternative Title
Es neesmu ragana
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First two acts are one of
my favorite dark comedies
of the year -- third act is one
of the most moving tragedies
of '17, and the final few scenes
are spectacularly surreal; the
social satire that 2017 needed. -
An extremely confident debut from Rungano Nyoni full of wonder, humour, reflection and tragedy. The film looks wonderful too and cinematographer, David Gallego (Embrace of the Serpent), really makes the most of the sparse Zambian landscape. It cleverly plays with traditional gender politics (and not entirely focused on women) to open discussion about respectability and marriage, lineage and how those accused of witchcraft are so easily discarded and branded for life, based on little more than a hunch. All done without resorting to cliched African poverty porn. This is a director to keep on eye on if this is anything to go by. Highly recommend.
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"i should have chosen to be a goat. at least goats can move about freely and eat what they like."
:(
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if you need me i'll be in my room writing an essay on the representation of women through witchcraft in cinema and comparing this beautiful yet heartbreaking little work of art to the glorious Suspiria (2018) and The Witch (2015) 🤓
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Hang on a minute. Is this a comedy, dramady or just plain bonkers?
There is so much going on that I found it difficult to decide, but the more I watch and read, the more it feels like genuinely well crafted satire. What I know for sure is that this is absolutely brilliant entertainment.Watching a group of old ladies with painted faces, tied to the ground with ribbons and being introduced to a busload of Euro-tourists as witches that have been constrained to prevent them from flying to the UK (cos, you know, that's what your average Zambian witch gets up to on a Tuesday morning) was hysterically funny and yet, really thought provoking.
The soundtrack to the film…
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a beautiful and dark story depicting the dangerous ways in which the link between patriarchy & tradition in communities can effect those communitites and how those most effected are usually the marginalised or outcasted.
gorgeous cinematography; great writing; a flawless and arresting performance from Maggie Mulubwa as young Shula. I loved the final scenes which were so tragic and poignant.
I'm so happy this was written and directed by a young black woman and i cannot wait to see more from Rungano Nyoni. -
The use of Estelle's "American Boy" in this film is one of the most iconic film moments of 2017
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I Am Not a Witch is the debut feature from director Rungano Nyoni and focuses on a remote community in Zambia. Our story starts when a young girl is accused of witchcraft and sent to a labour camp, where the Zambian government exploits the accused women by subjecting them to hard labour. The film starts off comedic - there's almost an air of Monty Python about it - as the narrative shifts into gear and we are introduced to the absurdity of the situation. The young girl is deemed a witch because she is accused and doesn't deny it - this is confirmed by a "test" carried out by a self proclaimed witch doctor (why doesn't he have to do…
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Powerful imagery, with purposeful camera work, helps define the visual narrative of the film. The film is bleak, but the cinematography cuts deep into the gloomy subject matter, bringing out its abstract beauty. It really is a good film on a technical level and the performances are good, but bringing in my personal feelings, it wasn’t an easy watch. It’s hard to know what’s happening for a lot of it.
I’m really happy I watched it, but I don’t think I’ll ever revisit it.
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“Come, let us sing for Shula.”
Absolutely riveting. An ambitious and well executed debut from Nyoni. Starting with what initially feels like a rather comedic first two acts, the sadness and longing of Shula grows heavier and heavier, leaving the third act with the power to hit hard and strong. I was absolutely spellbound by how seamlessly this blends satirical with tragic. Beautiful cinematography, a beautiful performance from Maggie Mulubwa, a beautiful story. Just absolutely, all around beautiful. An instant favorite. I could not recommend this more.
Today is my birthday and normally I would be heading to the theater to celebrate. Thanks to Corona, I’m at home instead so I’ll be celebrating by watching films directed by Black filmmakers!! I encourage you to click this link and consider donating, signing petitions, or gathering more resources to help support the Black Lives Matter movement.
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You are now becoming civil witches.
I Am Not a Witch's impeccable composition and brilliantly sparse soundtrack help the film maintain its delicate balance between tragedy and comedy, though it certainly opts for the former toward the end.
Definitely worth a watch.
